■Memorial   Soliciting   a  State 
[Hospital 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 

ALEXANDER  B.  ANDREWS 

Class  of  1893 

TRUSTEE  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 

FRIEND  OF  THE  LIBRARY 


CP362.2 

D61 
c.2 


I 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


n 


00043580268 

FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


\~ 

•C; 

BL  ~ 

"~-> 

*>^ 

v^** 

**N, 

£ 

v, 

^. 

V 

N 

^ 

~> 

V^<<    JhcilfCLJ     /// 


Tin 


r 


V 


-T 
> 


J 


r 


* 

[HOUSE  OF  COMMONS  DOCUMENT,  NO,  2/f' 


MEMORIAL 


toLiciTrsa   a 


STATE    HOSPITAL 

FOR  THE   PROTECTION  AND  CURE  OF  THE    INSANE, 


SUBMITTED  TO  THE 


GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  OP  NORTH  CAROLINA, 


lOVEIVBEB,  1848 


RALEIGH  s 

3EATQN  GALES,  PRINTER  FOR  THE  STATE, 


'■>.     .'vl       ♦» 


. 


• 


u 


^ 

- 

•« 


MEMORIAL. 


To  the  General  Assembly  of  the 

State  of  North  Carolina  : 

Gentlemen  : — 

I  respectfully  ask  your  attention  to  the  subject 
herein  presented  and  discussed  ;  and  solicit  your  prompt 
and  favorable  action  upon  the  same. 

I  come  not  to  urge  personal  claims,  nor  to  seek  indi- 
vidual benefits  ;  I  appear  as  the  advocate  of  those  who 
cannot  plead  their  own  cause ;  I  come  as  the  friend  of 
those  who  are  deserted,  oppressed,  and  desolate.  In 
the  Providence  of  God,  1  am  the  voice  of  the  maniac 
whose  piercing  cries  from  the  dreary  dungeons  of  your 
jails  penetrate  not  your  Halls  of  Legislation.  I  am  the 
Hope  of  the  poor  crazed  beings  who  pine  in  the  cells,  and 
stalls,  and  cages,  and  waste  rooms  of  vour  poor-houses. 
I  am  the  Revelation  of  hundreds  of  wailing,  suffering 
creatures,  hidden  in  your  private  dwellings,  and  in  pens 
and  cabins — shut  out,  cut  off  from  all  healing  influences, 
from  all  mind-restoring  cares. 

Could  the  sighs,  and  moans,  and  shrieks  of  the  insane 
throughout  your  wide-extending  land  reach  you  here  and 
now,  how  would  your  sensibilities  to  the  miseries  of  these 
unfortunates  be  quickened  ;  how  eager  would  you  be  to 
devise  schemes  for  their  relief — plans  for  their  restoration 
to  the  blessing  of  a  right  exercise  of  the  reasoning  facul- 
ties. Could  their  melancholy  histories  be  spread  before 
you  as  revealed  to  my  grieved  spirit  during  the  last  three 
months,  how  promptly,  how  earnestly  would  you  Eearoh 


out  the  most  approved  means  of  relief;  how  trifling,  how 
insignificant,  by  comparison,  would  appear  the  sacrifices 
you  are  asked  to  make  ;  how  would  a  few  dimes  and. 
dollars,  gathered  from  each  citizen,  diminish  in  value  as 
a  possession,  compared  with  the  certain  benefits  and  vast 
good  to  be  secured  for  the  suffering  insane,  and  for  their 
afflicted  kindred,  by  the  consecration  and  application  of 
a  sufficient  fund  to  the  construction  of  a  suitable  hospital 
in  which  the  restoring  cares  of  skilfully  applied  physical 
and  moral  treatment  should  be  received,  and  in  which 
humane  and  healing  influences  should  take  the  place  of 
abuse  and  neglect ;  and  of  galling  chains  and  loathsome 
dungeons. 

North  Carolina,  hailed  of  her  sons,  "  the  glorious  Old 
North," — North  Carolina,  unburlhe  ned  by  State  debts, 
untouched  by  serious  misfortunes,  is  last  and  latest  of 
the  "old  thirteen,"  save  the  small  terrirory  of  Dela- 
ware, to  make  provision  for  the  care  and  cure  of  her 
insane  citizens,  and  almost  the  last  embracing  all  tho 
New  States  in  our  broad  Union. 

But  it  is  not  to  the  State  pride  of  the  intelligent  citi- 
zens, of  North  Carolina  that  my  appeal  comes  ;  it  is  to 
the  liberal  and  humane  hearts  of  this  portion  of  my 
fellow  citizens,  its  plea  reaches  ;  it  cannot  be  rejected,  it 
dares  not  consent  to  be  put  off.  it  claims  with  earnest 
importunity  that  its  merits  may  be  discussed,  it  would 
merge  in  oblivion  the  multiplied  miseries  resulting  from 
past  neglects  and  procrastination,  by  wakening  to  action 
the  efficient  energies  of  humanity  and  justice. 

At  present  there  are  practiced  in  the  State  of  North 
Carolina,  four  methods  of  disposing  of  her  more  than  one 
thousand  insane,  epileptic,  and  idiot  citizens,  viz  :  In  the 
cells  and  dungeons  of  the  County  jails,  in  comfortless 
rooms  and  cages  in  the  county  poor-houses,  in  the  dwell- 
ings of  private  families,  and  by  sending  the  patients  to 
distant  hospitals,  more  seasonably  established  in  sister 
States.  I  ask  to  represent  some  of  the  very  serious  evils 
and  disadvantages  of  each  and  all  these  methods  of  dis- 


posing  of  the  insane,  whether  belonging  to  the  poor  or  ts 
the  opulent  classes  of  citizens. 

It  may  be  here  stated  that,  by  far  the  larger  portion  of 
the  insane,  epileptics,  and  idiots,  are  detained  in  or  near 
private  families,  few  by  comparison,  being  sent  to  North- 
ern or  Southern  State  hospitals,  and  yet  fewer  detained 
in  prisons  and  poor-houses,  yet  so  many  in  these  last,  and 
so  melancholy  their  condition,  that  were  the  survey  ta- 
ken of  these  cases  alone,  no  stronger  arguments  would 
be  needed  to  incite  energetic  measures  for  establishing 
an  institution  in  North  Carolina  adapted  to  their  neces- 
sities, and  to  the  wants  of  the  continually  recurring 
cases  which  each  year  swell  the  record  of  unalleviated 
unmitigated  miseries. 

If  the  plea  of  suffering  humanity  is  insufficient  to 
cmicken  Legislative  interposition,  an  argument  based  on 
indisputable  evidence,  may  be  advanced,  whose  force  can- 
not be  slighted  ;  I  mean  the  economy,  directly  to  individ* 
uals,  towns,  and  counties,  and  remotely,  but  not  less  ac- 
tually to  the  State,  of  establishing  without  delay,  a  Hos- 
pital for  the  treatment  and  protection  of  the  insane. 

In  order  precisely  and  definitely  to  present  this  subject 
in  an  economical  point  of  view,  1  quote  from  carefully 
prepared  tables  furnished  by  the  experienced  Superinten- 
dant  of  one  of  the  most  successfully  conducted  Hospitals 
in  the  Union.  The  cases  affording  the  following  results 
are  taken  in  their  order  of  successive  admission.  The 
first  twenty  were  the  first  incurable  cases  which  were 
received  at  the  institution  :  the  last,  those  latest  received. 
The  expense  of  the  first,  cost  before  admission,  one  dollar 
and  fifty  cents  per  week.  They  had  in  the  aggregate 
cost  to  the  State  each,  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  and  fifty  cents.  On  the  other  hand,  the  actual  ex- 
pense of  the  last  twenty  cases  which  have  been  discharg- 
ed from  the  Hospital  cured,  amounts  only  to  forty-seven 
dollars  and  a  half  each.  Hence,  it  appears  that  the  ex- 
penses already  incurred  for  taking  care  of  twenty  cases 
suffered  by  delay  and  neglect,  to   become  incurable,  has 


6 

been  more  than  thirty-lico  times  greater  than  the  same 
number  of  cases  for  which  early  and  proper  provision 
had  been  made.  The  recent  cases  are  well ;  the  old  ones 
will  doubtless  continue  a  charge  through  life.  Strange 
as  it  may  appear,  it  is  not  the  less  true,  that  taking  an 
average  chance  for  cures,  it  would  have  been  a  pecuniary 
saving  to  the  State  to  have  had  seasonable  eare  of  these 
old  cases,  though  at  an  expense  of  eighty  dollars  a  week, 
rather  than  by  neglect  to  have  incurred  the  necessity  of 
supporting  them  to  the  present  time,  and  till  their  de- 
cease. 

The  incarceration  of  insane  men  and  women  in  Coun- 
ty prisons,  whether  furiously  mad  or  otherwise,  is  object- 
ed to,  first  as  subverting  the  uses  for  which  these  prisons 
are  constructed,  second,  as  placing  the  innocent  on  a 
level  with  the  guilty,  making  misfortune  and  crime,  dis- 
ease and  health,  go  hand  in  hand.  I  said  on  a  level,  I 
mistake  ;  the  felon  looks  forward  to  a  period  of  enlarge- 
ment, and  notes  the  time  when  his  prison  bonds  shall  be 
broken  ;  the  insane  whose  imprisonment  is  aggravated 
and  prolonged  by  consequence  of  sickness,  not  for  his 
crimes,  anticipates  no  season  of  liberty,  no  period  of  re- 
lease. 

Again,  many  persons  adopt  the  idea  that  the  insane  are 
not  sensible  to  external  circumstances,  that  to  their  per- 
ceptions the  dungeon,  chains,  cold,  nakedness,  and  harsh 
epithets  are  as  acceptable  as  a  comfortable  apartment, 
freedom  from  shackles,  a  pleasantly  tempered  atmos* 
phere,  decent  clothing,  kindly  speech,  and  a  courteous 
address.  They  assert  that  coarse,  ill-prepared  food  is  as 
palatable  as  that  which  is  wholesome  and  well  cooked, 
that  cold  and  heat,  sunshine  and  cloud,  pure  air  and  that 
loaded  with  noisome  exhalations,  liberty  and  confine- 
ment are  all  one  and  the  same  to  the  insane,  producing 
like  impressions  and  results  on  the  deranged  intellect. 
Greater  error  of  belief  was  never  adopted  ;  more  serious 
mistakes,  and  conducting  to  more  fatal  results  could  not 
be  propagated.  The  insane  in  most  cases  full  as  acute- 
ly, and  distinguish  as  readily  as  the  sane. 


Nor  are  we  to  conclude  that  because  a  man  is  insane 
that  he  is  not  in  a  large  majority  of  cases,  able  to  ap- 
preciate the  advantages    of  good  associates,  or  that  he  is  , 
obtuse  under  the  contact  of  ill-chosen  companionship.     I 
recollect  a  gentleman  who  had  enjoyed  a  liberal  education, 
and  possessed  a    refined  mind,  whobecame.insane  and 
shortly   furiously  mad;  for  a  little  time  he  was  conveyed 
to  a  jail,  and  exposed  to  the  daily  observation  of  a  crowd 
of  criminals,   Avhose  base  language  and  coarse  manners 
constantly   exasperated   his  temper  ;   finally  he  was  re- 
moved to  a  well  ordered  hospital,  and  after  some  months 
his  recovery  being  complete,  he  was  restored  to  his  fam- 
ily and   friends  ;  but  he  could  not  forgive  them  his  deten- 
tion in  the  prison;  he  spoke   with  bitterness  and  severity 
on  his  having  been  subject  to  such  a  degradation.     On 
the  contrary,  he  dwelt  with  tender  gratitude  upon  his  sit- 
uation in  the  hospital,  (that  of  Bloomingdale.War  New 
York)  and  spoke  with  continual  pleasure  of  the  comforts 
which  there  surrounded  him.     But  he  never  has  relin- 
quished the    opinion  that  his  malady  would  have  yielded 
much  more  promptly  to  the  mental  and  moral  treatment 
in  that  Institution,  had  he  been  at  once   conveyed  thither. 
"  I  object   absolutely,  says  Ellis,  to  the  inhuman  custom 
of  confining  insane  persons  and  idiots  in  the  same  builds 
ings  as  prisoners  and  criminals  ;  the  usage  cannot  be  too 
strongly  censured."     Many  examples  might  be  adduced 
to  illustrate  the  correctness  of  this  position,  and  for  other 
reasons  than  those  already  stated. 

In  1844,  I  found  a  furious  madman  in  one  of  the  dun- 
geons of  the  old  jail  in  Fayette  County.  Perm.  His  disposi- 
tion was  homicidal  ;  he  had  been  in  prison  nearly  fifteen 
years.  On  one  occasion  a  m,in  was  brought  into  the 
prison  intoxicated,  having  committed  some  offence  while 
under  the  influence  of  ardent  spirits  ;  he  was  thrown  into 
the  cell  of  the  maniac,  who  it  is  supposed  was  provoked 
by  him,  but  no  one  knows  :  this  only  is  certain,  he  fell 
upon  the  involuntary  intruder  and  murdered  him  in  the 
excitement  of  a  most  ferocious  temper.     When  the  jailer 


8 

entered,  a  horrible  spectacle  presented  itself,  the  murder- 
ed drunkard,  mangled  and  lifeless,  the  insane  muderer 
covered  with  gore,  and  exulting  over  the  reeking  remains 
of  his  victim  ! 

In  Philadelphia,  some  months  since,  the  officers  of  the 
Moyamensing  prison  were  roused  from  sleep  by  the  cries  of 
murder  proceeding  from  a  cell  occupied  by  an  insane  man 
and  a  prisoner  who  had  been  committed  for  disorderly 
conduct.  This  unfortunate  man  was  found  lying  upon 
the  floor  weltering  in  blood,  while  the  murderer,  in  the 
highest  state  of  phrenzy  stood  over  him,  brandishing  a 
bloody  knife.  The  head  of  the  victim  was  nearly  sever- 
ed from  the  body,  and  the  body  covered  with  frightful 
gashes.  In  reply  to  the  enquiry  what  had  led  him  to  per- 
petrate this  horrid  deed,  he  answered  that  it  was  that  he 
might  not  himself  be  killed. 

An  insane  man  has  for  man}-  years  been  confined  in 
the  jail  at  Germantown,  Stokes  County,  in  this  State. 
On  one  occasion  some  time  past,  a  negro  prisoner  was  put 
into  the  same  room  as  the  crazy  man;  he  did  not  like  the 
companionship,  and  murdered  him  in  a  shocking  manner, 
yet  he  seemed  quite  insensible  to  the  turpitude  of  the 
deed,  and  rather  exulted  in  the  entire  success  of  the  act, 
as  I  was  informed  on  a  recent  visit  at  the  prison. 

I  admit  that  public  peace  and  security  are  seriously  en- 
dangered by  the  non-restraint  of  the  maniacal  insane.  I 
consider  it  in  the  highest  degree  improper  that  they 
should  be  allowed  to  range  the  towns  and  country  with- 
out care  or  guidance  ;  but  this  does  not  justify  the  pub- 
lic in  any  State  or  community,  under  any  circumstances 
or  conditions,  in  committing  the  insane  to  prisons  ;  in  a 
majority  of  cases  the  rich  may  be,  or  are  sent  to  Hospitals ; 
the  poor  under  the  pressure  of  this  calamity,  have  the 
same  just  claim  upon  the  public  treasury,  as  the  rich  have 
upon  the  private  purse  of  their  family  ;  as  they  have  the 
need,  so  have  they  the  right  to  share  the  benefits  of  Hos- 
pital treatment.  Urgent  cases  at  all  times,  demand,  un- 
usual and  ready  expenditures  in  every  community. 


9 

If  County  Jails  ?nust  be  resorted  to  for  security  against 
the  dangerous  propensities  of  madmen,  let  such  use  of 
prison-rooms  and  dungeons  be  but  temporary.  It  is  not 
long  since  I  noticed  in  a  Newspaper,  published  near  the 
borders  of  this  State,  the  following  paragraph:  "It  is  our 
fate,"  writes  the  Editor,  "  to  be  located  opposite  the  Coun- 
ty Jail,  in  which  are  now  confined  four  miserable  crea~ 
tures,  bereft  of  the  God-like  attribute  of  reason  :  two  of 
them  females  ;  and  our  feelings  are  daily  excited  by 
sounds  of  woe,  that  would  harrow  up  the  hardest  souL 
It  is  horrible  that  for  the  sake  of  a  few  thousand  dollars 
the  waitings  of  the  wretched  should  be  suffered  to  issue 
from  the  gloomy  walls  of  our  jails  without  pity  and  with* 
out  relief.  Were  our  law-makers  doomed  to  listen  for  a 
single  hour  each  day  to  the  clanking  of  chains,  and  the 
piercing  shrieks  of  these  forlorn  wretches,  relief  would 
surely  follow,  and  the  character  of  our  State  would  be 
rescued  from  the  foul  blot  that  now  dishonors  it."  In  near- 
ly  every  jail  in  North  Carolina,  have  the  insane  at  dif- 
ferent times,  and  in  periods  varying  in  duration,  been 
grievous  sufferers.  In  Halifax  County,  several  years 
since,  a  maniac  was  confined  in  the  jail  ;  shut  in  the  dun. 
geon,  and  chained  there.  The  jail  was  set  on  fire  by 
other  prisoners  :  the  keeper,  as  he  told  me,  heard  frantic 
shrieks  and  cries  of  the  madman,  and  "might  have  saved 
him  as  well  as  not,  but  his  noise  was  a  common  thing  ; 
he  was  used  to  it,  and  thought  nothing  out  of  the  way 
was  the  case."  The  alarm  of  fire  was  finally  spread  ;  the 
jailer  hastened  to  the  prison:  it  was  now  too  late; 
every  effort,  (and  no  exertions  were  spared,)  to  save  the 
agonized  creature,  was  unavailing.  He  perished  in 
agony,  and  amidst  tortures  no  pen  can  describe. 

In  Wentworth,  Rockingham  County,  is  an  aged  crazy 
man  whose  history  even  carefully  abridged  would  fill  too 
many  pages  to  be  introduced  here.  The  principal  facts 
of  his  troubled  life  are  known  to  many  in  all  the  adjoin- 
ing Counties.  Can  it  be  credited  ?  crazed  and  wretched, 
he  has  been  the  inmate  of  a  prison  for  more  than  thirty 
years  !  and  that  not  for  the  commission  of  crimes, 


10 

In  Stokes  jail,  at  Germanton,  was  a  very  crazy  man, 
confined  in  an  unventilated,  dreary  dungeon.  Being  tol- 
erably quiet  about  that  time,  his  chains  had  been  re- 
moved, and  he  was  rejoicing  in  being  able  to  reach  the 
low  gratfd  door,  because,  said  he  *'I  can  put  my  mouth 
close  to  the  bars  and  draw  in  some  air  :  dont  you  like 
fresh  air,"  he  enquired, "  Oh  it  is  so  good"!  "  but  oh  is'nt 
it  pleasant  to  look  out  and  see  the  sky,  and  see  the  pretty 
fields;  I  cant  see  them  here,  now  you  are  come  to  let  me 
out;  I  know  you  have;  I  want  to  get  out;  I  want  to  walk 
about;  I  don't  want  to  stay  here."  Alas  I  could  render 
no  relief,  the  unfortunate  man  was  incapable  of  self  con- 
trol, and  endangered  life  and  property  when  at  large,  and 
there  was  no  hospital  to  receive  him  in  Carolina — he 
was  poor,  and  so  could  not  be  conveyed  to  that  of 
another  State. 

I  recollect,  of  many  examples,  one  recorded  in  a 
Report  to  the  Virginia  Legislature,  by  Dr.  Stribling, 
which  serves  to  illustrate  what  might  have  been,  in 
all  probability,  the  benefits  of  timely  Hospital  care  for 
theis  suffering  madman. 

In  1841,  a  patient  was  conveyed  from  a  jail  in 

County,  where  he  had  been  confined  loaded  with  irons  for 
six  months.  He  had  been  temperate  and  industrious,  but 
was  unfortunate  and  insanity  ensued.  He  was  convey- 
ed to  the  Hospital  bound  hand  and  foot,  screaming  vo- 
ciferously, and  seeming  a  very  demon  in  look  and  act. 
For  days  he  was  furious,  but  his  malady  yielded,  at  first 
by  medical  means,  and  finally  by  moral  influences.  In 
one  month  he  was  freed  from  all  restraints,  passed  in 
and  out  of  the  building  at  pleasure,  and  soon  cheerfully 
occupied  himself  upon  the  grounds  of  the  Institution,  in 
useful  labor,  without  even  an  attendant.  In  four  and  a 
half  months  his  cure  was  perfect,  and  he  was  discharged. 
His  gratitude  and  attachment  to  his  physician  and  nurse 
seemed  unbounded.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  set- 
tled his  affairs  there,  and  after  a  few  months  returned  to 
offer  his  services  as  attendant  in  the  Hospital,  and  has 
continued  in  the  daily  and  hourly  exercise  of  those  kind 


11 

and  humane  cares  which  were  so  grateful  and  soothing 
in  his  own  experience.  He  has  the  responsibility  of 
guarding,  protecting,  employing,  and  amusing  a  class  of 
fifteen  patients,  all  of  whom  are  devoted  to  him.  Com- 
ment upon  this  case  is  needless. 

In  the  miserably  dilapidated  jail  in  Surry,  was  also  a 
crazy  man,  quiet  at  the  time  of  my  visit,  but  subject  to 
access  of  violent  and  alarming  paroxysms.  Before  com- 
mittal he  often  declared  to  his  wife  that  "  he  felt  mighty 
strange,  that  he  was  bound  to  kill  somebody,  that  he  felt 
dreadfully,  that  he  had  a  desire  to  kill  her."  He  was 
not  malicious,  did  not  entertain  emnity  towards  any  one 
individual,  but  had  a  morbid  and  almost  uncontrolla- 
ble desire  "  to  see  blood  run."  Of  course,  being  looked 
upon  as  dangerous  to  the  lives  of  others,  he  was  com- 
mitted to  the  jail  for  an  indefinite  period,  where  the  ap- 
plication of  moral  and  medical  means  was  unattainable. 
In  a  Hospital,  he  would  have  been  an  indn.strions  and 
useful  inmate,  and  probably  in  a  short  period  might  have 
been  perfectl}'  restored  to  mental  and  physical  health. 

Since  I  was  in  Rowan,  an  insane  man,  possessed  of  a 
moderate  fortune  has  been  committed  to  the  jail  ;  I  will 
not  attempt  to  depict  his  sufferings  in  the  dismal  dungeon 
into  which  he  has  been  cast. 

From  the  comfortless,  and  old  jail  in  Wilkes,  an  insane 
women  had  been  discharged  some  time  previously  to  my 
visit.  At  that  period  and  since,  I  have  received  the  fol- 
lowing facts  of  her  history.  Mrs.  B-  is  now  above  35 
years  of  age,  and  had  for  many  years  been  eccentric,  at 
last  deranged,  and  finally  has  hecome  a  decided  ma- 
niac. While  her  husband  lived,  he  was  ever  kind  and 
indulgent,. and  often  said  to  his  neighbors,  in  excuse  for 
her  wayward  conduct  and  ill-speech,  that  they  must 
not  mind  her,  for  she  was  deranged,  as  he  believed. 
More  than  a  year  since,  she  had  been  ill  for  sometime, 
her  husband  was  exhausted  from  loss  of  sleep,  and,  as  he 
thought  at  a  favorable  moment  threw  himself  down  to 
rest.  She  perceived  him  sleeping,  she  went  out  and  re- 
turned with  a  large  stone,  with  which  she  beat  him  upon 
the  head  so  as  to  cause  almost  immediate  death,     Her 


12 

insanity  was  fully  proved  upon  her  trial,  and  she  was 
remanded  to  jail  ;  after  considerable  detention  her  broth- 
er decided  to  take  charge  of  her,  and  removed  her  to  his 
house.  Recently  in  a  state  of  high  excitement  she  at- 
tempted the  life  of  her  sister-in-law,  and  but  for  the 
timely  arrival  of  her  brother  would  have  accomplished 
the  shocking  purpose.  Her  physician  has  lately  written 
to  me,  that  he  regards  her  as  a  confirmed  maniac,  and 
dangerous  at  all  times  to  be  at  large,  as  well  as  danger- 
ous to  all  who  unguardedly  approach  her  when  she  is 
excited. 

An  insane  man  has  lately  been  discharged  from  th6 
jail  in  Beaufort  County,  and  sent  to  Hyde,  where  he  be- 
longed. One  also  from  Carteret,  as  I  am  told.  In  Craven 
County,  I  found  a  crazy  man  incarcerated  in  a  noisome, 
damp,  cold  dungeon  ;  "placed  there  for  safe  keeping!'' 
His  condition  was  very  wretched  ;  and  his  prospects  of 
relief  and  appropriate  treatment  no  better:  if  left  there 
he  must  become  a  confirmed  madman* 

In  a  dark,  dreary  and  filthy  dungeon,  in  Northampton 
County,  I  lately  found  an  insane  man  who  had  been  con- 
fined closely  for  several  years.  I  did  not  persevere  in  en- 
tering this  dungeon,  though  I  examined  others  corres- 
ponding with  it  in  dimensions,  but  cleanly  kept.  The 
keeper  doubted  the  safety  or  decency  of  opening  the 
doors  ,  and  no  advantage  could  have  been  derived  from 
doing  so,  merely  to  attempt  the  near  survey  of  a  place, 
that  must  assure  permanence  to  disease  ;  and  agravation 
to  bodily  and  mental  disability.  I  am  disposed  to  believe 
that  the  keeper  conceived  himself  in  the  performance  of 
his  duty,  to  the  extent  such  means  as  he  possessed  allow- 
ed. This  case  I  recollect,  was  repeatedly  described,  be- 
fore I  reached  Jackson,  by  humane  and  intelligent  citi- 
zens in  adjacent  Counties,  better  possessed  of  facts  than 
myself,  and  speaking  from  personal  observation  of  his 
sufferings,  noted  in  professional  calls  at  the  jail,  during 
the  session  of  the  Courts. 

If  Jails  are  unfit  institutions  for  the  treatment  and  re- 
straint of  the  Insane,  County  poor-houses  are  but  a  de- 
gree, if  indeed  at  all  more  suitable. 

/ 


13 

At  ihc  present  tirru1,  there  are  no  insane  persons  either 
in  the  Jail  or  poor-house  of  Wake  County,  but  a  conside- 
rable number  of  individuals  in  private  families,  in  more 
or  less  suffering  and  exposed  states,  according  to  the  abil- 
ity  of  their  friends  to  provide  for  them,  and  several  are 
wandering  at  large,  gathering  a  precarious  subsistence, 
and  not  safe  to  be  trusted  .with  their  liberty.  The  case 
of  several  requires  prompt  care  One  woman,  whose  pro- 
pensities are  homicidal,  resides  with  her  family,  to  their 
manifest  hourly  peril. 

The  Jail  of  Orange  is  well  built,  and  was  in  good  order, 
comparing  well  with  the  best  kept  Jails  in  the  State. 
The  reverse  exists,  in  regard  to  the  poor-house,  which 
was  neither  clean  nor  comfortably  furnished.  I  believe, 
sufficient  food  is  supplied,  and  in  sufficient  quantities. 
A  little  expenditure  by  the  County,  and  a  little  care, 
would  render  the  establishment  more  comfortable. 
There  were  six  insane  ;  three  in  close  confinement,  and 
much  excited.  The  most  violent,  a  man  long  a  maniac 
and  caged,  was  clean,  but  so  noisy  as  to  disturb  all  on 
the  premises  ;  a  large  part  of  the  time,  the  room  in  which 
his  cage  was  built,  could  be  made  light,  but  was  com- 
monly dark  and  close,  "  to  keep  him  more  quiet!"  A  ne- 
gro girl,  a  most  pitiable  case,  was  in  the  opposite  build- 
ing ;  and  a  white  woman  also,  in  a  separate  compart- 
ment, vociferous  and  offensive  in  the  extreme.  In  the 
passage,  between  their  cells  or  cages,  was  a  stove  in  which 
fire  was  maintained  when  necessary.  The  place  was 
very  offensive.  The  keeper  could  not  altogether  be 
blamed  for  this  ;  he  was  hired  to  direct  a  poor-house,  and 
not  qualified  to  rule  a  mad-house,  and  should  not  be  ex- 
pected to  do  it.  Very  many  cases  of  insanity,  in  various 
conditions,  exist  in  this  County. 

Tn  Granville  County  poor-house,  is  an  unfortunate  man, 
who  for  years  has  been  chained  to  the  floor  of  a  wretched 
room  ;  miserable  and  neglected,  his  now  deformed  and 
palsied  limbs  attest  the  severity  of  his  sufferings  through 
these  cruel  restraints ;  flesh  and  bone  are  crushed  out  of 
shape  by  the  unyielding  irons.     He  was  a  man  of  food 


11 

character,  industrious,  frugal  habits  ;  a  good  citizen,  and 
respectable  as  respected  ;  he  became  insane,  and  soon 
the  malady  assumed  a  maniacal  character:  he  was  car- 
ried to  the  poor-house,  loaded  with  chains,  and  left  like 
a  wild  beast  to  live  or  perish  :  no  care  was  bestowed  to 
advance  his  recovery  or  to  secure  his  comfort ! 

Caswell  Jail  was  in  good  order,  safely  constructed,  and 
vacant  of  prisoners.  The  family  of  the  keeper  reside  in 
the  building.  The  county  poor-house  establishment,  not 
distant  from  Yanceyville,  consists  of  a  series  of  decent 
one  story  buildings,  kept  remarkably  clean  and  neat,  and 
reflecting  credit  at  once  upon  the  county,  and  those  who 
have  the  immediate  charge.  Of  the  four  insane  residents 
here,  two  were  in  close  confinement;  a  woman  in  a  room 
of  sufficient  size.  Who  was  in  a  highly  excited  state. 
The  insane  man  was  in  a  sort  of  stall  or  cage,  and  at  the 
season  of  my  visit  the  place  was  clean.  The  noise,  per- 
versity, and  bad  habits  of  these  unfortunate  persons  was 
a  source  of  much  disquiet  in  the  establishment. 

In  illustration  of  the  blessing  and  benefit  of  Hospital 
care  in  cases  long  and  most  cruelly  neglected,  I  adduce 
the  following  examples  recorded  by  Dr.  Hill,  and  corres- 
ponding with  many  cases  under  my  own  immediate  ob- 
servation since  1840.  "Two  patients,"  writes  the  Dr. 
"were  brought  to  me  in  183G,  wiio  had  been  confined  in 
a  poor-housejbetween  eighteen  and  twenty  years.  During 
this  period  they  had  not  known  liberty.  They  had  been 
chained  day  and  night  to  their  bedsteads,  and  kept  in  a 
state  so  filthy  that  it  was  sickening  to  go  near  them. — 
They  were  usually  restrained  by  the  strait- waistcoat,  and 
with  collars  round  their  necks,  the  collars  being  fastened 
with  chains  or  straps  to  the  upper  part  of  the  bedstead, 
to  prevent,  it  was  said,  their  tearing  their  clothes.  The 
feet  were  fastened  with  iron  leg-locks  and  chains.  One 
poor  creature  was  so  whqlly  disabled  by  this  confinement, 
that  it  was  necessary  for  the  attendants  to  bear  her  in 
their  arms  from  place  to  place  after  she  was  brought  to 
the  Hospital;  she  shortly  acquired  good  habits,  and  was 
long  usefully  employed  in  the  sewing- room.     The  other 


15 

was  more  difficult  of  management,  but  soon  gained  clean- 
ly habits,  and  now  occupies  herself  in  knitting  and  sew- 
ing, and  that,  after  having  been  treated  for  years  like  the 
lowest  brute.  Another  case  was  brought  in  chains,  high- 
ly excited  ;  five  persons  attended  her;  in  six  days  all  re- 
straints were  removed  ;  and  she  walked  with  her  nurse, 
in  the  patients'  gallery.  In  June,  she  was  discharged 
from  the  wards  quite  cured,  and  engaged  as  assistant  in 
the  kitchen. 

The  Jail  of  Rockingham  is  in  tolerably  good  order,  the 
poor-house,  but  a  short  distance  from  Wentworth,  is  sin- 
gularly neat,  and  well-ordered  ;  the  inmates  sufficiently 
well-clad  and  very  neat  and  respectable.  The  build- 
ings require  repairs.  The  house  is  well  kept,  but  more 
comforts  might  well  be  supplied. 

The  Jail  of  Stokes  is  in  tolerably  good  condition,  but 
badly  constructed  for  the  admission  of  light  and  air 
in  the  dungeons  ;  there  should  be  a  stove  in  the  passage, 
to  dry  the  walls  in  damp  weather. 

The  poor-house  about  three  miles  from  Germanton, 
is  extremely  comfortless,  the  apartments  are  entirely  too 
much  crowded,  and  the  arrangements  are  not  suited  to 
promote  the  comfort  or  good  order  of  the  inmates. — 
Rooms  of  the  poor  all  ill-furnished  and  out  of  repair. 
Residence  of  the  Superintendant  very  neat  and  comfort- 
able. There  was  one  insane  woman  then  at  liberty  but 
often  confined  in  a  cell,  in  all  respects,  unfit  for  one  in 
her  condition.  I  cannot  forbear  the  remark,  that  when 
not  in  close  confinement,  she  was  very  improperly  situa- 
ted in  the  room  she  occupied.  There  were  several  oth- 
ers in  the  house  in  a  demented  state. 

The  Jail  of  Surry,  is  an  isolated  old  two-story  wooden 
building,  and  in  some  parts  dilapidated  ;  the  poor-house 
is  about  three  miles  from  Rockford,  the  Superintendent 
resides  in  town,  and  keeps  several  negroes  to  look  after 
the  poor,  of  whom  there  were  in  September,  about  30. 
There  were  no  insane  in  close  confinement,  but  two  who 
are  allowed  the  freedom  of  the  place. 


16 

The  jail  of  Guilford,  is  isolated,  hut  very  ive  11  built 
and  well  kept  :  in  addition  to  the  dung-eons  #and  other 
strong  rooms,  was  the  unusual  provision  of  a  large  chap- 
el room  lor  religious  services,  when  circumstances  should 
make  it  desirable  to  hold  such  therein.  The  old  poor- 
house  several  miles  from  Greensboro'  is  about  to  be 
abandoned,  being  utterly  comfortless  and  out  of  repair. 
New  buildings  on  the  Hillsboro  road  are  ^nearly  com  - 
pleted,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  establishment  will 
be  in  all  respects  well-ordered,  and  fitly  conducted. 

The  jail  of  Davidson,  a  new,  secure,  and  substantial 
building  was  found  in  excellent  order  ;  the  common  mis- 
take of  insufficient  air  and  light  in  the  dungeons  exists  here. 
The  County  poor  house  about  six  miles  from  Lexing- 
ton, was  pretty  well  ordered,  but  too  little  visited.  The 
supplies  of  food  and  clothing  seemed  sufficient  for  both 
health  and  comfort:  but  there,  as  elsewhere,  the  insane 
were  out  of  place,  and  in  a  bad  state.  For  this  no  blame 
is  to  be  attached  to  the  superintendant,  so  far  as  I  could 
judge.  One  very  crazy  man  was  chained  to  his  bedstead  ; 
he  was  noisy,  filthy,  and  truly  repulsive.  A  crazy  wo, 
man,  but  quiet,  was  rolled  in  a  quantity  of  soiled  bed 
clothing.  These  like  many  others  would  be  useful,  and 
decent  in  their  habits,  if  resident  in  the  hospital  expressly 
designed  for  the  insane.  Besides  these  are  two  demented 
patients. 

Rowan  jail,  on  the  first  floor  of  which  resides  the  jail- 
or, is  a  substanial  building — not  clean  when  I  saw  it  ; 
chiefly  commended,  I  was  told,  as  a  secure  prison.  An 
insane  man  has  recently  been  committed  here.  The  poor 
house  about  two  miles  from  Salisbury,  requires  so  mueh 
to  render  it  comfortable  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  know 
how  to  enumerate  its  deficiencies  :  the  house  occupied 
by  the  keeper  was  quite  the  most  comfortless  abode,  that 
I  have  seen  in  North  Carolina,  except  repaired,  certainly 
not  habitable  for  the  winter.  No  insane  man  in  con- 
finement in  this  institution. 

Iredell  jail,  is  isolated  and  had  just  passed  into  the 
charge  of  a  newly  appointed  officer,   it  would  hardly  be 


IT 

just  to  remark  severely  upon  its  very  dirty  and  neglected 
condition.  The  County  poor-bouse,  a  few  miles  from 
Statesville,  is  situated  in  a  singularly  secluded  spot,  re- 
mote from  supervision  and  often  observation,  and  is  a 
model  of  neatness,  comfort,  and  good  order  ;  having  a 
most  efficient  master  and  mistress,  especially  the  latter, 
upon  whose  cares  in  these  institutions  by  far  the  most  is 
dependent.  All  in  all,  this  was  in  much  the  best  condi- 
tion of  any  poor-house  I  have  seen  in  North  Carolina, 
neat,  plain,  and  decent,  it  would  do  credit  to  any  State  ; 
but  it  is  no  fit  place  for  the  insane.  Since  I  was  there, 
in  September,  a  highly  respected  citizen  writes  me  that 
a  young  woman  has  been  sent  to  the  poor-house  so  vio« 
lently  insane,  that  it  is  quite  unfit  she  should  remain 
there.  Also  a  man  has  in  that  County,  very  recently 
become  so  violently  mad  as  to  be  quite  unmanageable,  and 
having  no  Hospital  in  the  State,  they  have  confined  him 
with,  chains  and  manacles,  hand  and  feet,  and  do  as  best 
they  can.  A  subscription  paper  has  been  circulated  for 
the  purpose  of  raising  funds  to  send  him  to  Columbia, 
S.  C.  Other  painful  cases  exist  in  this,  as  in  the  counties 
which  I  have  visited,  and  from  which  I  have  heard;  most 
of  which  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty,  through  their  domestic 
and  social  position,  to  designate  ;  but  they  plead  ia 
heart-reaching  language  for  the  early  establishment 
of  a  State  Hospital. 

Wilkes  jail  is  an  old  building,  and  so  far  as  the  jailor 
is  accountable,  is  well  kept :  it  is  isolated,  and  a  wretch- 
ed place  whether  for  the  prisoner,  or  the  insane  who  are 
sometimes  confined  here.  There  is  no  poor-house  in  this 
County.  Five  or  six  cases  of  insanity  have  been  report- 
ed to  me.  One,  a  man  named  Dowel!,  is  said  by  a  re= 
spectable  physician  of  Wilkesboro'  to  have  been  crazy 
for  more  than  12  years:  the  malady  is  gaining  fore* 
gradually,  and  now  exhibiting  itself  in  furious  mania; 
he  is  a  very  dangerous  person  to  be  at  large,  has  proved 
himself  to  be  mischievous,  and  one©  ^attempted  to 
commit  homicide, 

2 


18 

The  Jail  of  Caldwell  is  well  built,  was  in  good  order, 
and  has  sufficient  light  and  air  in  every  part.  There  are 
no  violently  excited  insane  in  the  poor  house,  which  is 
some  miles  from  Lenoir,  and  but  few  cases  in  the  County. 

In  the  Jail  of  Davie,  is  one  insane  man  ;  in  the  poor- 
house  beyond  Mocksville,  I  was  informed,  was  a  case  of 
insanity  truly  pitiable,  beside  many  others  in  the  Count}'. 

The  Jail  of  Bertie  is  an  exceedingly  well  built  edifice, 
sufficiently  lighted  and  aired,  and  well-kept;  the  Jailor 
and  family  reside  on  the  first  floor  ;  the  County  poor- 
house,  about  three  miles  from  Morgartton,  is  not  well  sit- 
uated ;  the  buildings  are  out  of  repair,  and  ill-arranged 
within,  for  either  comfort  or  convenience  in  times  of  sick- 
ness or  of  health.  I  should  think  that  the  Superinten- 
dent was  kind  aud  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  all  his  du- 
ties towards  the  poor-  Here  as  in  most  of  the  poor  houses 
in  North  Carolina  religious  services  are  frequently  holden. 

The  jail  of  McDowell,  like  most  of  the  County  prisons 
in  thi3part  of  the  State,  I  found  well  built  and  well  kept  ; 
there  is  no  county  poor-house  in  ov  near  Marion  ,  and 
my  inquiries  reached  but  few  insane  in  the  County.  One 
man  often  violently  excited,  but  ordinarily  for  the  last  few 
years  so  tranquil  as  to  be  at  large,  I  found  beyond  Plea- 
sant Gardens.     At  one  time  he  was  closely  shut  up. 

The  jail  of  Buncombe  is  a  large  substantial  building  : 
formerly  there  was  a  county  poor-house  six  or  seven  miles 
from  Asheville,  but  its  remote  situation  and  serious  dis- 
comforts through  bad  management  led  to  the  entire  break- 
ing up  of  the  establishment  some  time  since.  A  plan  suc- 
ceeded this,  somewhat  original, which  when  I  was  in  Ashe- 
ville, had  not  been  fully  carried  into  effect  ;  having  no 
perception  of  its  merits  and  claims  to  commendation,  I 
shall  dwell  but  slightly  upon  the  subject,  merely  stating 
on  authority  of  several  of  the  citizens,  that  it  was  con- 
sidered in  constructing  the  new  jail,  expedient  to  make  it 
of  sufficient  capacity  to  accommodate  at  one  and  the  same 
time  and  place,  the  vagrants  and  felons  of  the  county,  and 
the  unfortunate  poor.  The  enclosed  yard,  "at  present 
unimproved,"  is  of  sufficient  extent  to  permit  the  erection 


19 

of  additional  buildings  "if  needful."  '-It  is  belived,"  said 
my  informant,  "that  the  wardens  and  overseers  consult  e^ 
conomy  by  this  arrangement  in  various  ways,  especially  as 
one  man  can  keep  the  prisoners  and  the  poor,  saving  the 
cost  of  hiring  a  second  individual  for  the  latter  service." 
"But  one  pauper  has  been  sent  to  jail,  and  he  ran  away 
dissatisfied  with  his  quarters,  in  about  three  weeks." 

Rutherford  jail  is  an  old  and  poor  building,  but  now 
serves  sufficiently  for  the  County.  1».  is  quite  isolated; 
but  the  jailer  seemed  fitted  to  fulfil  his  duties  with  hu- 
manity and  fidelity.  The  County  poor-house,  a  short 
distance  from  ilutherfordton,  is  not  so  comfortable  as 
respects  the  buildings  and  furnishing  as  it  should  be 
made.  The  Superintendant  seemed  a  favorite  of  the 
poor  there. 

Cleaveland  Jail  is  excellently  built,  cleanly  kept,  and 
the  Jailer,  as  should  always  be  arranged,  resides  in  one 
part  of  the  building,  having  thereby  the  more  immediate 
and  efficient  care  of  the  prison.  The  County  poor-house 
about  three  miles  from  Shelby,  is  a  small  but  neatly  kept, 
and  seemingly  comfortable  establishment.  It  seemed  to 
me  that  the  Superintendent  received  an  insufficient  re- 
compense for  the  difficult  charge  the  situation  of  several 
of  the  inmates  involved. 

Lincoln  Jail  is  a  well-built,  well-planned  prison,  well 
arranged,  and  apparently  well  kept.  The  poor-house, 
several  miles  from  Lincointon,  had  but  three  inmates  in 
October  ;  their  condition  was  uniformly  represented  as 
not  good,  and  the  establishment  described  as  being  ob- 
jectionable. Perceiving  influential  citizens,  prompt  to 
admit  existing  evils,  I  did  not  personally  visit  it.  No  in- 
sane at  present  are  confined  there.  Several  in  distressed 
conditions  in  the  County,  in  private  families. 

Gaston  Jail  is  as  yet  unfinished,  but  appears  to  be  a 
well-planned  building.  No  poor-house  in  or  near  Dal- 
las ;  but  one  such  needed  for  the  County  poor»  Several 
insane  in  the  County. 

Mecklenburg  Jail  is  remarkably  well  planned  and  well 
built,  but  less  well  kept  than  are  most  County  prisons  in 


20 

Kortb,  Carolina;  as  respects  clean  tineas.  The  County 
poor-house,  several  miles  from  Charlotte,  was  nearly  de- 
serted in  October,  having  but  two  of  the  County  poor  ;  a 
partially  insane  woman,  and  a  paralytic  man. 

Cabarrus  Jail  is  a  large,  well  constructed  building — id 
tolerable  order  ;  the  Jailor  occupies  commodious  apart- 
ments upon  the  first  story.;  The  County  poor-house  about 
two  and  a  half  miles  from  Concord,  is  very  deficient  in 
means  for  promoting  the  comfort  of  the  infirm  inmates. 
In  a  miserably  dilapidated  out-building,  perhaps  ten  feet 
square,  open  on  all  sides  to  the  ingress  of  the  winds,  rain, 
and  snow,  I  found  a  crazy  man  chained  to  the  floor,  filthy 
and  disgusting.  At  times  he  is  suffered  to  go  at  large, 
but  is  at  once  troublesome  and  dangerous  to  those  he 
meets,  or  whose  house  he  frequents.  In  a  Hospital,  this 
crazy  man  would,  under  judicious  care,  be  able  to  per- 
form more  labor  than  would  suffice  for  his  own  mainten- 
ance. I  did  not  visit  the  insane  scattered  in  private  fam- 
ilies. 

Stanly  Jail  is  a  small  new  building,  neat  and  secure, 
but  the  dungeons  so  planned  and  constructed  as  almost 
to  assure  the  destruction  of  health  to  any  who  might  be 
long  in  detention  ;  there  is  hardly  a  possibility  for  the 
admission  of  sufficient  air  to  support  the  absolute  demands 
of  the  animal  structure.  There  are  in  the  County  seve- 
ral cases  of  insanity  requiring  Hospital  treatment.  At 
present,  there  is  no  poor-house  in  on  near  Albemarle. 

Montgomery  Jail,  like  that  of  Stanly,  is  a  neat  sub- 
stantial building,  and  well-kept,  but  not  well  planned 
for  health,  as  respects  the  admission  of  light  and  air, 
though  it  assures  security. 

The  County  poor-house,  at  Lawrenceville  requires,  it 
appeared  to  me,  much  more  careful  attention  on  the  part 
of  the  Wardens,  to  supply  comfortable  and  necessary  at- 
tendance upon  the  aged  and  infirm,  who  alone  occupy 
the  buildings.  Nothing  could  be  more  creditable  to  t  hese 
feeble  women  than  the  neatness  and  care  with  which 
they  kept  their  apparel  and  their  apartments.  An  in 
$?me  man  bad  been  removed  to  some  other  situation  in  tha 


County.      Several  cases  of  insanity   were  related  to  mo 
on  authority. 

Moore  jail  seemed  a  secure  prison;  its  want  of  cleanli- 
ness was  excused  on  the  ground  of  there  being  no  pris- 
oners, and  being  occupied  as  a  lodging  for  servants. 
The  dungeons,  which  did  not  serve  this  use,  were  by 
comparison  with  the  majority  of  prisons  in  the  State,  in 
bad  order.  The  County  poor-house,  not  distant  from 
Carthage  was  excellently  kept  by  a  conscientious  and 
kind-hearted  family,  to  whose  cares  the  comforts  of  the 
inmates  are  aseribable,  rather  than  to  the  provision  made 
by  county  officials.  The  buildings  are  much  out  of  re- 
pair and  unfit  for  winter  habitation,  or  for  stormy  days 
at  any  season.  The  custom  so  worthy  of  entire  condem- 
nation, that  of  setting  off  the  poor  in  mass,  by  lots  or  sin- 
gly, to  the  lowest  bidder  exists  in  Moore  County.  The 
poor  are  fed,  clothed,  supplied  with  bed,  clothing  and  fuel 
and  waited  on  at  the  rate  of  8  cents  the  day  each ;  a  sum 
which  cannot  pay  those  who  undertake  this  charge. 
That  I  found  the  poor  well  supplied  with  food  and  well 
clad,  I  repeat  was  certainly  aseribable  to  the  liberality 
and  Christianity  of  the  present  keepers,  rather  than  to 
the  just  guardianship  of  the  public. 

Cumberland  jail  is  an   old  building,  well  lighted  and 
well  ventilated:  it   is   said  that  more  attention  will  be 
paid  to  the   preservation  of  cleanliness  than  heretofore, 
the  keeper  and  famlj"  now   residing  upon  the  premises. 
The  county  poor  house  within  three  miles  of  Fayetteville 
is  well  situated,  and  apparantly  excellently  kept :  clean- 
liness, that  crowning  excellence  in  house-keeping,  prevail- 
ed in  every  room  save  one,  and  I  imagine  might  with  the 
exercise  of  a  sufficient  determination,  be  secured  even  in 
that.     In  a  log  building  well  constructed,  and  admitting 
sufficient  light  and  air,  planned  so  as  to  be  warmed  in 
damp  and  cold  weather:  were  two  small  apartments  for 
the  insane  :  at  the  time  I  was  there  one  room  was  vacant, 
the  other  was  occupied  by  a  violently  excited  and  noisv 
insane  man,  whose  shouts  and  vociferations  reached  ma 
at  a  distance  from  the  p-oor-house.     In  a  hospital  this 


<¥} 


poor  creature's  energies  would  tind  exercise  in  useful  em- 
ployment ;  in  a  poor-house  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that 
the  superintcndants  should  have  the  qualifications  which 
pertain  to  a  judicious  control  of  maniacs:  moreover 
the  noise  and  disturbance  these  create,  banish  comfort 
and  repose  from  the  infirm,  the  sick,  the  dying  ,  and  the 
demoralizing  influence,  through  use  of  profane  language 
and  additional  evils.  In  this  poor-house  religious  services 
are  regularly  and  frequently  holden,  and  one  has  evi- 
dence that  the  ministers  of  the  various  religious  denomi- 
nations in  the  vicinity  had  not  overlooked  that  scripture, 
"  To  the  poor  the  Gospel  is  preached  which  foretold  the 
advent  of  Jesus  the  Saviour,  and  comforter." 

The  jail  of  Sampson  is  said  to  be  decently  kept.  The 
county  poor  are  said  to  be  well  clothed  and  supplied  with 
wholesome  food.  Several  cases  of  insanity  have  been 
related  in  this  county 

The  jail  of  Duplin  is  defective.  The  wardens  of  the 
county  poor-house  which  is  situated  east  of  Warsaw,  sev- 
eral miles  from  Kenansville,  have  the  reputation  of  giv- 
ing uncommon  attention  to  the  temporal  and  spiritual 
comforts  and  consolations  of  the  poor.  Religious  ser- 
vices are  holden  at  the  poor  house.  At  present  there  are 
no  insane  persons  there. 

The  jail  of  New  Hanover  appeared  to  be  tolerably 
■well  kept.  It  is  a  large  commodious  building.  Too  lit- 
tle light  and  air  are  admitted  into  the  dungeons.  The 
county  poor-house  on  the  confines  of  Wilmington  is  in  a 
miserable  and  dilapidated  condition  ;  fallen  wholly  from 
its  former  well  deserved  reputation  of  being  one  of 
the  best  Institutions  for  the  poor  ia  the  country.  Ap- 
parently the  acting  wardens  are  responsible  for  its  de- 
cline. There  are  affecting  and  suffering  cases  of  insani- 
ty in  several  private  families  in  this  County. 

Wayne  jail  is  an  old  dilapidated  building,-shortly  to  be 
replaced  by  a  new  prison.  Found  in  miserable  condi- 
tion. The  County  poor-house  several  miles  from  Golds- 
boro'.  seemed  quite  decently  kept,  and  in  many  respects 
bore  an  air  of  comfort.     There  seemed  to  be  neglect  from 


abroad  in  the  attendance  upon  the  sick  ;  several  individ- 
uals were  evidently  suffering  from  want  of  medical  ad- 
vice and  prescription.  This  establishment  is  but  seldom 
visited,  and  the  comforts  enjoyed  seemed  chiefly  referable 
to  the  caro  of  occupants.  One  of  the  poor,  an  insane 
man,  had  wandered  away  :  an  insane  woman  was  so  far 
controllable  as  to  be  steadily  and  usefully  occupied. 

Lenoir  jail,  a  very  old  and  isolated  building,  but  strong^ 
seemed  pretty  decently  kept ;  it  has  some  very  great  de- 
fects of  construction.  The  poor  of  the  county  are  not 
numerous,  by  comparison  with   the  adjacent  Country. 

Craven  jail,  a  very  large  brick  building,  promising  ex- 
teriorly a  better  condition  than  the  interior  revealed. 
The  dungeons  were  very  bad,  offensive,  dirty,  ill-lighted, 
and  not  ventilated.  A  very  insane  man,  considered  dan- 
gerous to  be  at  large,  was  in  one  of  them  ;  he  was  cold, 
exposed,  and  suffering  ;  his  condition  was  such  as  to  as- 
sure agravation,  if  not  permanent  confirmation  of  his 
malady.  There  are  no  means  of  maintaining  either 
dryness  or  warmth  in  the  passages  or  in  the  dungeons. 
The  county  poor-house,  a  short  distance  from  Newbern, 
is  well  situated,  and  has  the  reputation  of  being  well 
kept  in  general.  The  keeper's  house,  and  several  rooms 
occupied  by  the  poor,  were  neat  and  well-ordered;  others 
were  in  a  poor  condition.  A  Sunday  school  is  taught 
here  by  persons  from  Newbern,  whose  Christianity  is  il- 
lustrated in  their  practice  of  its  precepts.  There  are  here 
in  Craven  Count}',  many  cases  of  insanity. 

Beaufort  jail  is  a  neat  brick  structure  ;  the  jailor  oc- 
cupies the  lower  floor  in  front.  The  plan  of  the  prison  is 
not  good,  though  it  assures  security  when  properly  at- 
tended to. 

A  letter  received  from  a  physician  resident  in  Wash- 
ington, informs  me  that  since  I  left  that  town  a  week 
since,  an  insane  man  in  a  state  of  high  excitement,  has 
been  committed  to  the  jail  there  for  public  security,  and 
occupies  a  dreary,  wretched  cell.  I  cannot  question  the 
willingness  of  the  jailor  to  perform  his  duty  as  humanely 
as  possible  ;  but  there  is  no  mercy  nor  humanity  in  com- 
mitting the  insane  to  prisons. 


34 

The  unfortunate  man  above  alluded  to  might,  in  a  wejl 
ordered  Hospital,  undoubtedly  in  a  short  time  be  sufficient- 
ly recovered,  if  not  cured,  to  pursue  some  useful  and  pro- 
fitable employment. 

Recently  fifteen  cases  of  insanity  have  been  stated,  ex- 
isting in  this  section  of  the  State — that  is  in  Beaufort, 
and  adjacent  Counties. 

An  insane  person  with  whom  I  was  conversing  two 
weeks  since,  dwelt  with  profound  feeling  upon  the  trials 
and  sufferings  she  endured,  conscious  of  her  state,  and 
sensible  of  ail  that  occurred  around  her  :  that  which  most 
moved  my  feelings  at  the  time  was,  the  indescribable  pa- 
thos with  which  she  related  the  sufferings  and  hardships 
of  a  crazy  man  confined  in  the  Jail  in  her  native  County. 
She  concluded,  "  I,  in  my  troubles,  have  friends — he  has 
none." 

The  county  poor-house  not  distant  from  Washington, 
and  reached  over  a  good  road,  is  pleasantly  situated,  but 
in  a  spot  well  known  for  its  unhealthiness,  having  been 
abandoned  by  the  former  owner  of  the  property,  for  its 
liability  to  create  fevers,  and  for  the  general  insalubrity 
of  the  place.  The  establishment  needs  an  efficient  Su- 
perintendant,  competant  in  mind  and  body  to  carry  for- 
ward the  interests  of  the  place.  Offering  at  first  glance 
the  appearance  of  a  comfortable  institution,  it  fails  to 
show  forth  either  private  or  public  efficient  and  fit  direc- 
tion. The  sick  and  the  children  certainly  suffer ;  and 
those  able  to  work  need  a  director  to  insist  upon  their 
action.  I  found  one  woman  here  insane,  but  quiet. 

Pitt  jail  is  a  neat,  two  story  building  painted  white, 
and  sufficiently  large  for  present  county  purposes.  The 
poor  of  this  county  are  said  to  be  well  cared  for.  Sad 
and  distressing  cases  of  insanity  were  brought  to  my  no- 
tice existing  in  private  families,  in  conditions  of  extreme 
suffering  and  exposure,  of  which  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty 
to  give  the  history. 

Edgecombe  jail  is  a  well  constructed,  isolated  prison ; 
well  and  cleanly  kept :  its  defects  of  plan  and  arrange* 
ment  are  fewer  than  ordinary  in  county  prisons.  I  did  not 


25 

visit  the  poor-house  of  this  county  established  some  dis- 
tance from  Tarboro,  but  it  bears  a  good  reputation,  and 
at  present  there  are  no  violently  excited  insane  there  -, 
cases  are  known  abroad  in  the  county. 

Halifax  Jail  is  a  well  built  prison  seemingly,  though 
isolated,  securely  kept,  but  bears  the  reputation  of  being 
deficient  in  cleanliness.  At  present  no  insane  detained 
there.  The  poor-house  nearly  three  miles  from  Halifax, 
has  much  need  of  competent  care,  and  efficient  superin- 
tendence. Most  of  the  inmates  are  aged  and  infirm. 
The  buildings  are  well  situated  and  conveniently  plan- 
ned for  the  oocu pants,  but  deficiently  furnished,  except 
one  room  furnished  by  the  individual  who  dwells  in  it. 
The  sick  need  nursing,  care,  and  comforts ;  and  all  re- 
quire supervision. 

Northampton  Jail  is  well-built,  but  defectively  plan- 
ned— the  dungeons,  of  which  there  are  four,  are  insuffi- 
ciently lighted  and  ventilated,  and  however  cold  or  damp 
are  never  warmed  and  dried.  Here  is  an  insane  man  con- 
fined for  years  in  this  dreary  abode ;  from  his  sight,  the 
genial  sun,  the  beautiful  sky,  and  the  green  fields  are 
forever  shut  out ;  darkness,  and  foul  air,  and  solitude, 
heaviness  and  misery  are  his  portion.  Kindred  and 
friends  are  put  far  from  him,  and  his  acquaintance  into 
darkness.  May  the  merciful  God  compassionate  those 
who  are  so  cruelly  abandoned  by  their  fellow-men,  and 
may  no  heavy  retributions  crush  those,  who  so  unhesita- 
tingly and  unpityingly  consign  a  helpless,  crazed  crea- 
ture, to  such  a  hapless  doom. 

The  poor-house,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Jackson,  con- 
sists of  five  dilapidated,  unfurnished  rooms,  at  pre- 
sent abandoned.  The  Superintendant  who  resides  in 
a  pleasantly  situated  comfortable  house,  distributes 
quarterly,  to  one  hundred  beneficiaries  an  allowance  of 
meat,  meal,  and  clothing,  at  a  cost  to  the  county  of  about 
$2,500  00.  Several  insane  poor,  Band  others  in  better 
circumstances  are  in  this  County. 

The  jail  of  Nash  is  a  small  two  story  decent  building; 
no  insane  now  confined  therein.     The  poor=house  I  had 
4 


26 

sot  time  tc  visit,  but  understand  it  is  comfortable.  Sever- 
al cases  of  insanity  were  reported  to  me  existing  in  the 
county. 

Time  would  fail  in  the  narration,  even  were  it  proper 
to  unveil  the  miseries,  protracted,  and  indiscribably  va- 
ried,  of  the  insane  in  private  families,  and  the  distress  of 
families  thrown  into  sorrow  and  trouble  unequalled, 
through  the  affliction  and  sore  perplexities  arising  out  of 
care  over  the  demented,  the  epileptic,  and  the  maniac. 
A  detailed  description  of  their  personal  condition,  horri- 
ble as  it  must  be,  could  not  present  the  half  of  the  woes 
which  exist  in  every  county  throughout  North  Carolina, 
Loathing  and  horror  would  overwhelm  the  reader,  sue • 
cessively  introduced  to  dreary  apartments,  loathsome  cells, 
and  foul  cabins,  whence  issue  the  most  horrible  sounds 
and  poisonous  effluvia,  and  wherein  are  spectacles  of 
protracted  bodily  and  mental  misery  language  is  poor 
to  represent. 

Of  the  few  examples  of  many  which  exist,  to  which  I 
shall  now  refer  in  private  families,  the  following  have 
quite  recently  come  under  my  observation  :  A  poor  but 
industrious  farmer  in  the  western  part  of  this  State,  the 
father  of  a  numerous  family,  became  insane;  it  was  in 
vain  to  control  him  in  his  own  dwelling,  he  was  furious 
and  he  was  conveyed  to  the  County  jail  ;  here  his  suffer* 
ings  were  aggravated  and  his  malady  exasperated;  I  can* 
not  tell  for  how  long  a  time  the  lone  dark  dungeon  echo- 
ed  to  his  moans  and  cries,  nor  at  what  cost  the  county 
maintained  human  life,  unaiding  its  sufferings  and  neces- 
sities. In  process  of  time  the  paroxysms  of  violence  sub- 
sided, and  finally  he  was  transferred  to  the  humble  log 
cabin  of  his  aged  widowed  mother,  alone  woman  dwell- 
ing upon  the  mountains.  There  I  found  the  infirm,  af- 
flicted mother,  and  the  insane  son.  Amidst  tears  and 
sighs  she  recounted  to  me  her  troubles,  and  as  she  wept 
she  said,  M  the  Lord  above  only  knows  my  troubles,  and 
what  a  heap  of  sorrow  I  have  had  in  my  day,  and  none 
tofgive  me  help.  There  he  lay  in  the  jail,  cold  and  dis- 
tressed,  nnd    mightily  misused  ;  if  I  could  have  got  mo- 


27 

ney  to  send  him  off  to  where  they  cure  such  spells,  for 
they  do  say  crazy  folks  can  be  cured,  I  should  have  had 
him  in  my  old  age  to  take  care  of  me,  but  I  am  poor  and 
always  was,  and  there  is  no  help  here.  Ah  well,  many 
and  many  is  the  long  night  I  am  up  with  him  and  no 
sleep  or  rest,  anyhow;  this  cant  last  always;  I  shall  die, 
and  I  dont  know  what  is  to  come  of  him  then."  It  is 
for  Legislators  to  determine  whether  such  as  these  shall 
drag  out  troubled  existences,  and  no  succour  until  the 
Angel  of  death  brings  release,  and  seals  the  long  record 
of  "man's  inhumanity  to  man."  A  respectable  citizen  in 
the  same  quarter  of  the  county,  by  very  slow  degrees  lost 
his  reason.  First  was  a  nervous  restlessness,  next  un« 
wonted  irritability,  then  a  craving  for  stimulants,  which 
were  in  time  used  to  excess,  and  quickened  the  malady, 
yet  none  then  traced  the  real  cause  of  the  growing  evil : 
but  the  type  of  a  deranged  intellect  was  shortly  devel- 
oped  beyond  doubt,  and  in  a  few  months  the  distress  and 
trouble, of  the  household  knew  no  alleviation  nor  interval. 
Finalty,  removal  from  home,  under  most  grievous  cir- 
cumstances, ensued,  and  I  have  not  long  since  been  wit- 
ness to  the  afflictions  of  this  worthy  and  respectable  fam- 
ily whose  efforts  to  sustain  themselves  are  as  affecting 
as  praiseworthy.  Had  there  been  in  North  Carolina,  a 
State  Hospital,  timely  care  might  have  secured  a  perma- 
nent cure.  It  is  almost  too  late  to  assure  this  now,  but  in- 
stead of  restoration  is  life-long  expense,  and  life-long 
suffering. 

In  Lincoln  County,  near  a  public  road,  stands  a  decent 
dwelling  ;  near  by  is  a  log  cabin,  strongly  built,  and 
about  ten  feet  square,  and  about  seven  or  eight  feet  high  ; 
no  windows  to  admit  light ;  the  square  logs  are  compact- 
ly laid  ;  no  chimney  indicates  that  a  fire  can  be  kindled 
within,  and  the  small  low  door  is  securely  locked  and 
barred.  Two  apertures  at  right  angles,  ten  inches  long 
by  four  wide,  are  the  sole  avenues  by  which  light  and 
air  are  admitted  within  this  dreary  cabin,  so  closely  se- 
cured, and  so  cautiously  guarded.  You  need  not  ask  to 
what  uses  it  is  appropriated  ;  the  shrill  cri6S,  and  tern- 


28 

pestuous  vociferations;    of  an  incarcerated  maniac  Will 
arrest  you  on    the  way,   and  if  you  alight,  and  so  far  as 
the  light  received  as  before  described  will  allow,  exam- 
ine the  interior   of  this  prison,  you  will  discern  a  fero- 
cious,  filthy,  unshorn,   half-clad  creature,  wallowing  in 
foul,  noisome  straw,  and  craving  for  liberty.   The  horrors 
of  this  place  may  not  be  more  definitely  descibed  ;  they 
can  hardly  be  imagined  :  the   state  of  the  maniac  is  re- 
volting in  the  extreme.     This  creature,  is  a  man — insane 
for  more  than  thirteen  years — for  a  longtime  suffered  to 
range  the  country  far  and  wide,  addicted  to  mischief  and 
disposed  to  violent    acts.     For  assuring  public    and  pri- 
vate safety,  his  family  have  adopted  the  only  alternative 
of  confining  him  upon  their  own  farm,  rather  than  see- 
ing him  thrown  into  the  dungeon  of  the  County  jail.     Of 
these  two  evil  conditions,  I  confess,  I  see  no  choice.     The 
family  though  enjoying  the  means  of  decent  livelihood, 
when  unburthened  by  extra  expenses,  have  not  the  means 
of  sending   him  to  a  distant    Hospital.     The  rich    may 
partake  the   benefits   such   institutions  afford :  the  poor 
must  suffer,  agonize,  and   bear  heavily  out,  by  slow-kill- 
ing  tortures,  their   unblessed  life  !    Are  there  no  pitying 
hearts,  and  open  hands  that  can  be  moved  by  these  mis- 
eries ? 

Well  and  truly  may  it  be  said  of  the  insane  :  whose 
sorrows  are  like  unto  their  sorrows,  and  whose  griefs  are 
like  unto  their  griefs?  Friend  and  companion  are  re- 
moved far  from  them,  and  their  acquaintances  are  hid 
from  their  view ! 

Of  thirteen  cases  of  insanity  in  and  near  Raleigh,  there 
is  one  to  which  my  attention  has  within  a  few  days  been 
called,  which  especially  illustrates  the  want  of  a  Hospital 

for  individuals  in  narrow    circumstances.     Mrs. ~— 

has  for  several  years  had  rather  feeble  health.  Some- 
time in  February  last,  she  manifested  peculiar  restless- 
ness by  day  and  night,  became  agitated  and  nervous,  and 
her  mind  was  subject  to  strange  and  harrassing  delusions 
From  that  time  she  became  incapable  of  attending  to'the 
affairs  of  her  household  ;  neglected  her  child,  and  passsd 


29 

most  of  the  time  night  and  day  in  traversing  the  small 
apartments  of  her  dwelling.  Her  husband,  dependent 
upon  daily  industrious  labor  for  a  decent  support,  found 
himself  embarrassed  by  the  distresses  of  his  home  and  the 
claims  of  business.  He  is  unable  to  pay  her  expenses  at 
any  Hospital ;  meanwhile,  she  is  sinking  into  a  conditiou 
of  hopeless  and  permanent  insanity.  She  who  was  neat, 
modest,  industrious,  and  kind,  is  now  through  this  most 
afflictive  malady,  utterly  transformed  ;  her  garments  are 
rent  in  tatters,  her  person  neglected,  her  hair  dishevelled, 
falls  in  tangled  locks  about  her  head  ;  her  speech  is  no 
longer  gentle,  true  and  kind;  but  violent,  profane,  and  inde- 
cent ;  in  that  humble,  once  pleasanthome,  is  now  neither 
peace,  nor  rest,  nor  security  :  there  is  constant  danger  of 
destruction  by  fire,  and  acts  of  personal  violence  often 
recurring,  indicate  the  increasing  liability  to  deeds  in- 
volving fatal  consequences  :  in  train  with  these  alarming 
manifestations,  are  symtoms  of  a  suicidal  disposition.  It 
has  been  found  necessary  at  times  to  confine  her  move- 
ments by  the  application  of  painful  modes  of  restraint 
upon  the  limbs  ;  which,  though  preventing  present  mis- 
chief, continually  aggravate  the  malady.  Hospital  treat- 
ment might  restore  this  patient  to  her  family  blessings,  to 
society,  and  to  usefulness. 

Many  cases  of  maniacal  insanity  have  been  removed  to 
Southern  and  Northern  Hospitals.  Hitherto,  North 
Carolina  has  been  willing  to  be  dependent  upon  other 
States  for  her  afflicted  children,  while  in  possession  of 
ample  means  to  succor  and  heal  their  maladies  within 
her  own-borders.  But  there  are  other  objections  to  trans- 
porting patients  to  distant  Hospitals  for  remedial  care, 
beside  the  fact  of  encroachment  upon  the  Institutions  of 
other  States.  Expenses  are  vastly  increased  in  making 
long  and  always  difficult  journeys  under  circumstances  so 
harrassing  and  painful ;  and  an  experienced  physician  of 
a  celebrated  Hospital  has  informed  me  that  the  fatigues, 
excitement,  and  exposures  of  several  patients,  conveyed 
long  distances,  have  within  the  present  year  resulted  in 
death.     "Want  of  sleep  and  exhaustion,  have  reduced  them 


30 

to  the  most  dangerous  condition  before  being  received  ; 
and  not  seldom  depleting  remedies  injuriously  adopted, 
have  hastened  dissolution.  If  there  is  cruelty  and  gross 
injustice  in  holding  the  insane  in  jails,  poor-houses,  and 
private  families,  there  is  serious  risK:  of  property  and  of 
life  in  leaving  them  to  range  at  large.  Plainly,  there  is 
but  one  remedy. 

In  Aberdeen,  Ohio,  an  insane  man,  left  in  the  room 
where  a  little  girl  three  years  old  was  sleeping,  in  the 
absence  of  the  mother,  threw  down  the  Bible  which  he 
was  reading,  seized  an  axe.  and  deliberately  chopped  the 
little  victim  into  five  pieces. 

In  Rowan  County,  N.  C,  a  maniac  cut  her  husband's 
throat.  In  Wilkes  bounty  another  beat  her  husband  up- 
on the  head  so  as  to  cause  his  death.  In  Rockingham 
an  insane  man  killed  his  neighbor.  A  man  in  Kentueky 
killed  two  of  his  children,  and  attempted  the  life  of  his 
wife.  Another  in  Indiana  cut  his  wife's  throat  and  gashed 
her  face  so  that  she  died.  Besides  these,  I  recollect  more 
than  thirty  similar  cases  in  which  homicide  was  attempt- 
ed and  committed  by  individuals  known  to  be  insane. 

1  adduce  a  few,  from  many  thousand  examples  on  re- 
cord, which  illustrate  the  benefits  of  Hospital  residence 
and  of  remedial  treatment  of  the  Insane,  in  both  curable 
and  incurable  cases. 

"There  has  been,"  writes  Dr.  Bates  of  the  Maine  State 
Hospital,  "in  this  Institution  for  some  years,  an  individ- 
ual whose  family  is  strongly  disposed  to  maniacal  insan- 
ity. By  many  years  neglect  this  patient  became  incura- 
ble ;  the  powers  of  the  brain  seem  to  exist  in  fragments. 
He  is,  and  probably  always  will  be  a  public  charge.  Two 
of  his  sons  have  been  attacked,  seasonably  brought  under 
treatment,  and  cured.  These  young  men  during  the  ab- 
sence of  disease,  were  industrious  and  frugal  citizens. 
They  are  both  liable  to  a  recurrence  of  the  hereditary 
malady.  If  brought  to  the  Hospital  soon  after  each  at- 
tack, there  are  nine  chances  in  ten,  that  they  will  always 
soon  recover  and  return  to  their  occupations  and  former 
place  in  society  ;  if  neglected   until  functional  derange- 


31 

ment  changes  to  organic  disease,  they  will  become  a  pub- 
lic charge  for  life,"  These  cases  are  selected  plainly  to 
illustrate  the  fact  that  economy  not  less  than  humanity 
calls  for  early  and  efficient  action  in  assuring  appropriate 
remedial  treatment  for  the  insane. 

Dr.  Stribling,  the  excellent  physician  and  friend  of  the 
insane,  and  Superintendant  of  the  Western  State  Hospi- 
tal in  Virginia,  states  several  cases  of  much  interest  in 
his  published  reports  to  the  Legislature.  From  these 
documents  I  quote  the  following  examples  :  In  1842,  a 
young  gentleman,  twenty-one  years  ot  age,  the  son  of  a 
highly  respectable  individual  who  was  formerly  a  prom- 
inent and  efficient  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Virgin- 
ia, was  brought  to  our  Hospital.  Possessed  of  a  good 
natural  understanding,  improved  by  education  and  such 
other  advantages  as  wealth  had  supplied,  and  with  a  dis- 
position uniformly  cheerful,  he  was  at  all  times  a  most 
interesting  patient  and  companion.  In  the  Autumn  of 
1842,  he  was  attacked  with  bilious  intermittent  fever, 
which  although  speedily  arrested,  was  followed  by  de- 
pression and  neglect  of  fill  accustomed  duties  and  care  of 
property.  In  about  two  months  the  mind  became  haras- 
sed by  the  most  distressing  delusions,  such  as  being  sur- 
rounded by  foes  who  were  plotting  his  destruction  ;  his 
friends  were  regarded  as  enemies, and  he  believed  himself 
doomed  to  eternal  punishment,  &c.  He  remained  in  this 
state  for  some  time,  when  suddenly  he  passed  into  the 
highest  degree  of  cheerfulness  and  gaiety.  Affection  for 
his  family  revived  ;  he  fancied  himself  by  turns  poet, 
philosopher,  and  statesman;  at  one  time  he  was  an  angel 
in  Eden,  at  another  Noah  defying  the  destroying  flood, 
and  finally  he  conceived  himself  the  Creator  of  the  Uni- 
verse. He  was  removed  to  the  Hospital  where  the  ap- 
plication of  moral  and  medical  means  in  a  short  period 
assured  his  recovery  :  he  left  us  rejoicing  in  the  blessing 
of  restored  health. 

A  respectable  gentleman  who  had  been  esteemed  bv 
all  who  knew  him,  as  an  affectionate  husband  and  father. 
a  generous  friend  and  worthy  citizen,  was  received  as  a 


32 

patient  in  the  Western  Hospital,  in  1843.  He  was  a 
merchant,  and  through  unavoidable  misfortunes  rather 
than  ill  management,  sustained  heavy  losses:  he  became 
depressed,  was  attacked  with  bilious  fever,  which  left  his 
health  materially  impaired  ;  after  some  months  his  friends 
became  satisfied  that  his  mind  was  seriously  diseased  ;  evi- 
dences of  insanity  were  multiplied  ;  he  became  maniacal 
and  his  family  under  the  advice  of  an  intelligent  physician, 
placed  him  in  the  Hospital.  He  was  feeble,  emaciated, 
sleepless,  and  suicidal.  His  delusions  varied,  and  were 
of  a  most  distressing  character.  Demons  seemed  to  sur- 
round him  and  to  multiply  their  torments.  In  a  short 
time  his  malady  seemed  to  yield  to  remedial  measures. 
His  physical  health  improved  ;  his  mind  gradually  be- 
came tranquil  ;  one  delusion  after  another  disappeared  ; 
his  spirits  revived,  and  soon  he  was  pronounced  cured, 
and  returned  to  his  family,  and  to  his  business,  a  cheerful 
and  happy  man."  As  he  was  from  that  class  of  society 
which  possesses  extensive  influence,  and  who  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  unfortunately,  are  too  apt  to  regard  insti- 
tutions for  the  insane  with  aversion,  and  who  consent  to 
place  their  afflicted  friends  therein  only  when  all  other 
means  have  failed,  and  all  other  sources  of  hope  cut  off, 
it  may  not  be  amiss  to  quote  a  passage  from  one  of  his 
letters  received  by  a  friend  after  his  recovery  and  by  him 
communicated  to  his  physician. 

'•I  am  truly  happy  to  inform  you  that  my  health  is  now 
perfectly  restored.  I  cannot  say  too  much  in  praise  of 
this  institution,  nor  too  earnestly  express  my  gratitude  to 
my  friends  for  having  placed  me  here.  Instead  of  a 
place  approximating  to  a  prison,  as  I  once  considered  it, 
when  influenced  as  many  are  by  ignorance  and  preju- 
dice, I  now  view  the  establishment  in  the  light  of  a 
pleasant  hotel.  1  gratefully  acknowledge  comforts  sup- 
plied  and  kindness  received." 

•'Last  year  the  wife  of  a  respectable  and  independant 
farmer  was  brought  to  the  Hospital  in  a  most  painful 
condition.  She  was  endued  by  nature  with  a  clear  and 
vigorous    intellect,  being  emphatically,  a  strong-minded 


33 

woman,"  remarkable  for  her  industry,  discretion,  and 
good  management.  She  had  not  encountered  those  diffi- 
culties and  disturbing  cares  that  often  wear  out^the 
heart,  but  had  led  a  life  of  peace  and  enjoyment.  Some 
time  in  the  year  before  insanity  was  manifested,  her 
strength  seemed  to  diminish  without  apparent  cause. 
Finally  her  mind  became  a  prey  to  the  most  harassing 
delusions;  she  fancied  herself  given  over  to  everlasting 
condemnation  :  believed  herself  the  destroyer  of  a  friend  ; 
attempted  suicide,  and  after  six  months  lost  in  unavail- 
ing attempts  to  restore  her, she  was  placed  in  the  Hospi- 
tal at  Staunton.  There  was  a  continual  conflict  between 
her  feelings  and  her  reason,  her  affective  and  her 
intellectual  faculties,  which  rendered  her  case  one  of 
care  and  interest.  In  a  few  months  she  was  perfectly 
restored. 

In  1848,  a  young  lady  of  cultivated  mind  and  accom- 
plished manners  sunk  into  a  state  of  agitated  depression. 
Change  of  scene,  cheerful  society,  exercise  and  medical 
skill  were  employed  in  vain.  Her  affections  towards  her 
friends  passed  into  indifference,  and  so  to  settled  aver- 
sion. To  her  distempered  fancy  her  husband,  parents, 
and  sisters  appeared  transformed  to  demons.  The  dis- 
tressed mother  could  not  see  her  child  transferred  to  a 
Hospital,  and  long  resisted  the  entreaties  of  wise-judging 
friends.  The  disease  became  for  seven  months  continu- 
ally more  aggravated,  till  finally  amidst  lamentations 
and  anguish  her  family  consented  to  her  removal.  Her 
improvement  was  rapid,  and  restoration  finally  complete, 
and  instead  of  distress  at  the  thought  of  finding  herself 
the  inmate  of  a  Hospital  for  the  insane,  she  often  exclaim- 
ed, "  Oh  why  did  not  my  friends  place  me  sooner  here." 
To  a  relative  she  wrote,  "  this  is  no  prison,  but  a  refuge 
for  the  distressed,  where  every  comfort  is  furnished,  and 
only  the  most  soothing  attentions  experienced.  I  will 
ever  cherish  the  most  grateful  recollection  of  this  Hos- 
pital and  of  the  excellent  physician  through  whose  skill 
by  Heaven's  blessing  I  am  recovered  "' 


34 

"  A  rnaaborn  of  respectable  and  pious  parents  instruct- 
ed from  his  youth   in   lessons  of  morality  and  religion, 
grew   up   a  peaceable,   industrious,  and  u  seful  citizen. 
His  disposition  was  mild    and  gentle,  his  feelings  affec- 
tionate, and  his   habits   exemplary.     The  decease  of  his 
mother  overwhelmed  him  with   affliction  :  he  fell  into  a 
state  of  what  is  termed  religious  melancholy,  and  grad- 
ually became    agitated  and  furious  ;  suddenly  attempted 
the  life  of  his  wife  and  children,  killed  one  of  the  latter, 
and  seriously    wounded   the  others.     He  destroyed  at  a 
blow  a  neighbor,  who  attempted  with   others  to  secure 
him,  and  was  at  last  with   difficulty  secured,  and  lodged 
in  the  jail,  and  shortly  brought  to  the  Hospital.     Months 
passed  and  he   continued  excited  and  dangerous.     Very 
gradually  a  change  took  place  ;  his  habits  improved  ;  his 
physical  health  improved,  and  from  being  one  of  the  most 
loathsome  and  offensive    patients  ever  introduced  into 
the    institution,   he  became   decent,    quiet,  cleanly,  and 
finally    rational,   peaceable,    and    in    all    respects   well 
behaved.     He  remained  in  the    Hospital  five  months  af- 
ter the  recovery  of  his  reason,  to  ensure  the  safely  of  his 
return   to  society,  and  was   finally,  through  the  solicita- 
tion of  his  family    and    friends,  upon  their  special  appli- 
cation, discharged  by  the  Court  of  Directors.      Thus  far 
his  recovery   seems  to  be  permanent."     The  danger  of 
delay   in   placing  the   insane  under   remedial  Hospital 
treatment   cannot  be  too  strongly  insisted  upon.     Hun- 
dreds and  thousands  of  cases  attest   the  cruelty  and  the 
folly  of   procrastination.     However  writers  upon  insan- 
ity, and  medical    men   may  differ  upon  some  points,  on 
this  question  all  agree,  and  deprecate  with  forcible  argu- 
ments the  dangers  of  piocrastination.     Esquitol,  Pinel, 
Falret,  Jacobi,  Conolly,  Bell,   Brigham,    Awl,  Kirkbride, 
Stribling,  and   a  host  of  others,  have    earnestly  and  re- 
peatedly  enforced,  and  continue  to  enforce  this  truth  ; 
and  employ   the  most   eloquent   persuasions    to  induce 
friends  and  guardians  to  take  advantage  of  Hospital  treat- 
ment in  the  early  stages  of  the  malady.     Willis,  the  cel- 
ebrated physician  to  George  the  III,  dismissed  the  king's 


35 

family,  courtiers,  officers,  and  domestics  ;  procured  stran- 
gers  as  nurses  and  attendants,  and  thus  first  succeeded 
in  controlling  the  delusions  which  distracted  the  insane 
monach.  "  To  separate  the  insane  from  the  objects  sur- 
rounding them  at  the  origin  of  the  disease,  writes  M. 
Pinal,  to  entirely  disconnect  them  from  their  habitual 
intercourse  with  their  relatives,  friends,  and  servants,  is 
the  imperative  and  indispensable  plan  for  commencing  a 
course  of  treatment  which  shall  be  attended  with  favor- 
able results:"  and  Falret,  says,  "it  is  demonstrated  by 
repeated  experience,  that  the  kind  of  isolation  preferable 
to  all  others,  is  that  of  an  establishment  especially  devo* 
ted  to  the  insane."  "Few,"  writes  Hallaran,  "very 
few  patients  are  fouud  to  recover  under  domestic  treat- 
ment." There  can  be  but  one  opinion  as  to  the  solemn 
duty  of  the  removal  and  non-intercourse  of  the  insane, 
with  their  intimate  friends  and  family j  and  their  familiar 
homes.  The  superintendant  of  an  English  Hospital 
writes  in  1842,  as  follows:  "In  a  large  proportion  of 
cases  admitted  the  present  year,  owing  to  long  detention 
by  friends,  or  by  parish  officers,  the  prospects  of  recov- 
ery have  been  entirely  precluded,  and  in  successful  cases, 
the  period  of  treatment  bears  generally  an  accurate  ratio 
to  the  prior  duration  of  the  disorder."  The  visiting  com- 
missioners of  the  sane  Hospital  report,  that  "they  cannot 
too  strongly  express  their  conviction,  from  experience, 
that  the  hope  of  cure  is  materially  lessened,  and  not  unfre* 
quently  defeated,  by  the  delay  which  is  suffered  to  take 
place  in  sending  patients  to  the  Hospital  after  first  con- 
firmation of  their  malady."  The  physician  of  the  York 
Retreat,  states  in  an  annual  report,  that  "forty-nine  years 
of  experience  establishes  the  fact  of  recovery  of  four 
cases  to  one  brought  under  cure  within  three  months  of 
the  first  attack,  while  it  is  less  than  one  to  four  in  cases 
of  more  than  twelve  months  duration  when  admitted." 
The  superintendant  of  the  Edinburgh  Hospital  shows 
that  "  to  be  treated  successfully,  insanity  must  be  treated 
early ;  ill  founded  prejudices,  and  false  sensibility  often 
operate  to  prevent  this  being  done."    These  remarks  ars 


as  general  and  as  often  reiterated  as  are  the  establish- 
ment of  Hospitals  and  the  issue  of  reports  emanating 
therefrom.  Dr.  Earle,  shows  from  his  experience  in  the 
treatment  of  the  insane,  that,  "  after  the  three  first 
months  of  insanity  are  passed  the  probabilities  of  entire 
restoration  rapidly  diminish."  Not  only  do  delays  in 
placing  patients  in  suitable  Hospitals  involve  the  risk  of 
permanently  establishing  the  malady,  but  the  safety  of 
property  and  security  of  life  is  hazarded  in  a  vast  many 
instances. 

Dr.  Gait  records  an  example  in  point,  as  occurring  in 
Virginia.  An  insane  woman,  the  mother  of  a  family,  be- 
came so  much  the  victim  of  distressing  delusions,  that  her 
family  perceiving  danger  from  her  being  at  large,  took 
her  before  the  justices  for  examination  in  view  of  placing 
her  in  the  Hospital  at  Williamsburg.  The  following 
letter  was  addressed  by  one  of  these  to  the  President  and 
Directors  of  that  institution.  "Sirs — at  the  time  an  ex- 
amination was  had  into  the  state  of  Mrs. mind,  she 

seemed  so  lucid  that  one  of  the  magistrates,  who  had  not 
seen  her  previously,  dissented  from  the  opinion  of  the 
other  two,  imagining  that  the  public  were  in  no  danger 
from  her  going  at  large;  and  had  the  examination  taken 
place  one  hour  later,  no  doubt  would  have  been  felt  upon 
the  subject  by  that  gentleman,  as  she  became  so  furious 
shortly  after,  as  to  render  it  necessary  to  confine  her  in  the 
public  jail.  After  a  few  days  she  became  importunate  to 
return  to  her  husband  and  children  :  and  a  call  of  her  hus- 
band at  the  jail  increased  her  supplications  to  be  set 
free.  He  finally  prevailed  with  the  jailor  to  take  her 
home,  promising  to  return  the  next  day  to  give  bond  and 
security  for  her  restraint  and  safe-keeping.  In  the  night 
she  rose  unperceived,  proceeded  to  the  yard  and  pro- 
cured an  axe.  and  after  calling  the  servant  who  slept  in 
the  room,  and  finding  him  asleep,  gave  her  husband  ma- 
ny blows  over  the  head,  fractured  his  skull  in  seve- 
ral places,  and  left  him  senseless.  She  left  the  house 
and  ran  unremittingly  for  several  hours  ;  affirmed  her- 
self dead,  and  declares  that  she   has   been  buried  these 


37 

five  years.     1  have  made    these  remarks  to  illustrate  her 
case  and  assist   treatment  of  the  same."     Another  case 
occurring  in  Eastern  Virginia,  seems  worthy  of  notice  ; 
there  are  but  too  many  parallel  cases  in  North  Carolina. 
The  friends  of  the  young  woman  referred  to  were  in  lim- 
ited  circumstances,  and  even  by  making  considerable 
sacrifices  could  not  succeed  in  rendering  her  comfortable 
at    home:  they    entertained    the    strongest    prejudices 
against  Hospitals  for  the  insane.     .She  was  violently  ma- 
niacal, breaking  in  pieces  and  tearing  every  thing  upon 
which  she  could  lay  her  hands  ;  and  vociferated  perpet- 
ually in  the  most  harsh  and   discordant  tones.     She  was 
almost  constantly  confined  in  a  small  closet  or  cell  con. 
structed  in  a  small  apartment  in  her  mother's  house  :  oc- 
casionally, for  change,  she  was  taken  into  the  open  air 
and  confined  to  a  tree  by  heavy  chains.     At  the  time  she 
was  removed  to   the  Hospital,  she  had  contracted  the 
most  loathsome  habits,  and  had  plucked  the  whole  of  the 
hair  from  her  head.     For  more  than  two  years  she  had  ex  - 
hibited  a  most  pitiable  spectacle,  and  every  day  her  misery 
seemed  to  be  increased.     After  several  months  residence 
in  the  Hospital,  her  improvement  commenced :  her  recove- 
ry is  slow,  but  it  is  hoped  will  ultimately  be  complete. 

In  a  report  from  Dr.  Stribling,  the  following  statement 
is  on  record  :  "Of  all  the  cases  received,  ninety-seven 
were  recent  cases,  of  whom  eighty-three  were  restored  to 
reason  ;  jive  remain  in  an  improved  condition  ;  three  are 
unimproved  ;  and  six  died  before  any  opportunity  was 
offered  to  test  the  use  of  remedies  in  their  behalf.  These 
results  correspond  with  those  of  other  institutions.  Of 
one  hundred  and  fifty -eight,  cases  remaining  in  the  Hospi- 
tal at  Staunton  in  1845,  and  in  all  probability  doomed 
for  life  to  endure  the  weary  burthen  of  remediless  dis- 
ease, how  many  might  have  been  restored  to  reason,  hap- 
piness and  usefulness,  had  they  been  subject  to  early 
and  appropriate  moral  and  physical  treatment.  In  ma- 
ny cases  the  morbid  sentiment  of  friends  led  them  to  re- 
ject Hospital  aid9  and  now  the  care  and  skill  are  all  too 
late  ! 


38 


The  following  Table,  writes  Dr.  Allen  of  the  Kentucky 
Hospital,  shew  the  Cases  of  less  than  One  Years  Duration 
admitted  into  the  Asylum,  from  July  1st,  1830,  to  Septem- 
ber 30th,  1847;  the  Number  of  those  cured,  Relieved,  Un- 
improved and  Died,  and  the  Per  Cent-  of  Cures  to  Admis- 
sions and  Discha?'ges. 


ADMITTED. 

Recov- 
ered. 

94 
51 

Reliev- 
ed. 

Unim- 
proved. 

8~ 
2 

Died. 

9 

7 

Per  ct.    of 
Cures    to 
Admissions. 

74.15 
69.86 

Per    ct.  of 

Cures    to 
Discharges. 

Males,      127 

Females,    73 

200 

16 
13 

91.23 
87.93 

145 

29 

10 

16 

72  05 

90.62 

"I  have  intimated,"  says  the  same  judicious  physician, 
"that  such  public  institutions  for  the  insane,  as  afforded 
every  facility  lor  their  successful  treatment,  and  such  as 
to  invite  the  early  committal  of  them  to  Asylum  discipline, 
were  demanded  on  the  score  of  economy.  I  would  not, 
in  the  mean  time,  have  it  forgotten,  that  the  illustration 
of  this  position,  applies  to  persons  who  maintain  their 
insane  friends  at  private  charge,  as  well  as  to  the  State. " 


39 


The  following  Table  shows  the   truth   of  the  intima= 
tion,  and  the  reason  why  it  is  so  : 

A  Tabic  showing  the  comparative  cost  to  the  State  of  twenty  old  and  twen- 
ty  recent  cases  of  insanity,  illustrating  the  importance,  in  an  economical 
point  of  view,  of  placing  such  persons  under  treatment  at  an  early  period 
of  their  disease,  and  of  providing  every  means  of  treating  the?n  success- 
fully in  an  Asylum. 


OLD  CASES.            | 

RECENT  CASES. 

Cost    of 

each  case 

Cost    of    each 

-Vo. 

Age. 

Time'spent 

at  65  dol- 

No. 

Duration  before. 

Time  spent    in  1 

oase    at    1  dol- 

In Asylum. 

lars   per 

admission. 

Asylum. 

lar     and  fifty 

annum. 

cents  per  week 

"1 

47  [20  years, 

#1,300 

~ ] 

1  week, 

36  weeks, 

£54  00 

2 

48 

20  years, 

1,300 

2 

!  7  weeks, 

1 6  weeks, 

24  00 

3 

52 

17  years, 

1,105 

3 

3  months, 

32  weeks, 

4S  00 

4 

54 

16  years, 

1,140 

4 

9  months, 

40  weeks, 

60  00 

5 

47 

17  yenrs, 

1,005 

5 

2  months, 

20  weeks, 

30  00 

6 

46;  15  years, 

975 

6 

2  months, 

20  weeks, 

30  00 

7 

51 1 14  years, 

910 

7 

3  months, 

12  weeks, 

18  00 

8 

31 

13  years, 

845 

8 

1  month, 

20  weeks, 

30  00 

9 

33 

11  years, 

715 

9 

2  months, 

28  weeks, 

42  00 

10 

45 

12  years, 

780 

10 

3  months, 

24  weeks, 

36  00 

11 

37 

10  years, 

650 

11 

6  months, 

24  weeks, 

36  00 

12 

39 

10  years, 

650 

12 

6  months, 

32  weeks, 

48  00 

13 

33 

12  years, 

7S0 

13 

4  months, 

2S  weeks, 

42  00 

14 

45 

15  years, 

975 

14 

4  months, 

12  weeks, 

18  00 

15 

48 

16  years, 

1,040 

15 

6  months, 

8  weeks, 

12  00 

16 

56' 12  years, 

780 

16 

1  month, 

8  weeks, 

12  00 

17 

44  13  years, 

715 

17 

2  months, 

24  weeks, 

36  00 

18 

47  15  years, 

975 

18 

1  month, 

20  weeks, 

30  00 

19 

36  13  years, 

845 

19 

6  months, 

12  weeks, 

18  00 

20 

36    9  years, 

580 

20 

1  month, 

20  weeks, 

30  00 

""1 

.$18,030 

t       $654  00 

Aggregate  cost  of  20  old  ca- 
ses, #18,030  00. 

Average  time  spent  in  Asy- 
lum by>ach,  14  years, 

Average  cost  of  each  case, 
S901  50. 


Aggregate  cost  of  20  recent  cases,  ,^654  00, 
Average  time  spent  in  Asylum,  nearly    fiva 

mouths. 
Average  cost  of  each  case,  $32  14. 


Moral  treatment  of  the  insane  with  a  view  to  induce 
habits  of  self-control,  is  of  the  first  importance.  Uni- 
form firmness  and  kindness  towards  the  patient  are  of 
absolute  obligation.  The  most  exact  observance  of  truth 
should  be  preserved  in  all  intercourse  with  the  insane. 
They  rarely  violate  a  promise,  and  are  singularly  sensitive 
to  truthfulness  and  fidelity  in  others.  They  rarely  for- 
give an  injury  and  as  seldom  betray  insensibility  to  kind- 
ness and  indulgence.     Once  deceived  by  a  nurse  or  atten- 


40 

dant,  they  never  a  second   time  bestow  their  confidence 
upon  the  same  individual. 

Moderate  employment,  moderate  exercise,  as  much  free- 
dom as  is  consistent  with  the  safety  of  the  patient,  and  as 
little  apparent  anxious  watchfulness,  with  cheerful  so- 
ciety should  be  sought.  The  condition  of  the  patients 
must  determine  the  number  of  nurses  in  a  ward.  The 
general  opinion  is  holden  that  all  patients  do  better  with- 
out special  nurses,  wholly  devoted  to  their  care. 

•'The  proper  mental  and  physical  employment  of  the 
insane,"  says  Dr.  Kirkbride,  "  is  of  so  much  importance 
that  the  full  treatment  of  this  subject  would  be  to  give 
at  once  a  treatise  on  the  insane  and  ou  insanity.  What- 
ever it  maybe,  it  must  embrace  utility,  and  it  is  well  to 
combine  both  physical  and  mental  occupation.  Active 
exercise  in  the  open  air,  moderate  labor  in  the  gardens, 
pleasure  grounds,  or  upon  the  farm,  afford  good  results. 
Short  excursions,  resort  to  the  work  shops,  carpentering, 
joining,  turning,  the  use  of  a  good  library  &c.  &c,  are 
aids  in  advancing  the  cure  of  the  patient."  Sedentary 
employments  are  not  in  general  favorable  to  health. 
The  operations  of  agriculture  seem  liable  to  the  least 
objection.  There  is  a  limit  to  beobserved  in  the  use  of 
labor  as  a  moral  means;  for  there  are  always  some  pa- 
tients to  whom  it  is  decidedly  injurious.  This  effect  is 
manifested  oftenest  in  recent  cases. 

Or.  Ray  says  that  it  is  an  error  to  suppose  that  the  in- 
sane can  labor  as  productively  and  as  uniformly  as  the 
sane  man.  The  working  hours  of  a  patient  should  sel- 
dom exceed  six  or  seven  per  diem,  and  not  seldom  work 
is  altogether  intermitted. 

The  manner  in  which  labor  exerts  a  beneficial  in- 
fluence upen  the  insane  mind  differs  no  doubt  in  different 
forms  of  the  disease.  In  highly  excited  patients  the  sur- 
plus nervous  energy  will  be  consumed,  if  no  other  way'is 
provided,  in  mischief  and  noise  ;  but  let  it  be  expended  in 
useful  labor,  and  although  the  work  may  not  always  be 
perfectly  well  done,  yet  the  patient  thinks  it  is,  and  ex- 
periences  the   gratification  of  having  done  what  he  be- 


41 

Sieves  is  a  good  thing,  and  consequently,  so  far  as  it  goes 
it  is  beneficial. 

This  sentiment  of  satisfaction  in  being  useful,  the 
guardian  of  the  insane  cannot  too  carefully  watch  over  and 
loster,  since  it  conducts  to  self-control  and  self-respect. 
Incurables  who  are  able  and  willing  to  work,  are  much 
more  contented  and  enjoy  better  health  when  employed. 
Even  some  of  the  most  demented  and  idiots  are 
found  capable  of  doing  something.  A  young  man  be- 
came a  raving  maniac,  and  in  three  months  was  convey- 
ed to  the  hospital,  but  was  already  declining  into  idiocy; 
soon  complete  imbecility  supervened.  He  was  classed 
with  the  idiots  in  the  institution  ;  and  considered  as  past 
hope  of  benefit  or  cure.  One  day  he  was  observed  to 
amuse  himself  with  some  rude  coloring  and  odd  figures 
upon  the  walls  of  his  room.  He  was  supplied  with  col- 
ours, brushes,  and  canvass,  and  soon  commenced  a  por- 
trait :  he  was  now  roused,  and  eager  to  accomplish  his 
new  and  attractive  work.  He  was  encouraged  to  renew 
and  repeat  his  attempts,  and  finally  his  mind  was 
restored  to  its  early  and  rational  condition.  Thus,  care- 
ful attention  to  the  daily  state  of  the  patient,  suggested 
a  method  of  treatment  which  resulted  in  a  decided  cure. 
The  diseased  organs  were  suffered  to  rest  and  their  re- 
cuperative energies  recovered  action. 

The  physician  of  the  hospital  at  Staunton,  in  a  report 
of  his  institution,  says,  that  during  the  past  year,  the 
men  patients  were  chiefly  emplo}'ed  in  cultivating  the 
farm,  working  the  garden,  improving  the  gronuds,  con- 
structing fences,  cutting  wood,  and  attending  to  stock. 
The  women  were  engaged  in  sewing,  knitting,  spinning, 
and  assisting  in  various  departments  of  house-work,  and 
other  occupations  and  recreations  suited  to  their  sex. 

"  A  patient,  insane  for  more  than  ten  years,  and  be- 
3'ond  hope  of  recovery,  considered  dangerous  to  the  pub- 
lic safety,  and  therefore  detained  at  a  hospttal,  converses 
incoherently  and  raves  wildly,  yet  finds  constant  and  pro- 
fitable employment  upon  the  farm  ;  has  charge  of  a 
stockof  cattle  and  hogs  and  is  scrupulously'faithful  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties.  Instead  of  confinement  in  a 
county  jail,  from  whence  he  was  removed  to  the  Hospi- 
tal, in  a  most  filthy,  and  abject  condition,  at  a  cost  of 
little  less  than  three  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  he  is 
here  a  genteel,  orderly,  and  industrious  individual,  cheer- 
ful, happy,  and  useful :  his  labor  more  than  pays  all  his 
expenses,  and  supplies  him  with  sufficient  indigencies." 
6 


42 

Prichard,  in  a  work  on  insanity,  says  that  '*atthe  Rich- 
mond Asylum,  out  of  217  patients,  130  were  actively  and 
usefully  employed  viz:  18  in  gardening,  16  in  spinning, 
12  in  knitting,  18  in  needlework,  12  in  washing,  16  in 
carrying  tools,  white-washing  the  wards,  tailoring  and 
wearing  ;  and  12  were  learning  to  read." 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  results  of  productive 
labor  last  year  upon  the  Bloomingdale  Hospital  farm  near 
New  York,  8  or  10  acres  being  only  cultivated. 


Potatoes,  1952  bushels, 

900  bushels,  sound,  at  $0  75  | 

675J 

00 

Sugar  Beet, 

180     « 

» 

0  37J 

67 

50 

Blood  Beet, 

100     " 

a 

0  50 

50 

JO 

Turnips, 

460     " 

u 

0  31$ 

143 

75 

Carrots, 

28     " 

a 

0  50 

14 

00 

Parsnips, 

120     « 

a 

60 

00 

Onions, 

45     « 

tt 

0  75 

67 

00 

Corn, 

150     " 

u 

0  37$ 

56 

25 

Egg  Plant, 

20     " 

u 

0  50 

10 

00 

Radishes, 

125     « 

a 

1  00 

125 

00 

Beans, 

120     " 

ct 

0  50 

60 

00 

Peas, 

65     « 

ct 

0  75 

48 

75 

P  unking, 

75     " 

ct 

0  37$ 

28 

12 

Squashes, 

130     " 

tt 

0  " 

48 

75 

Spinach, 

210     " 

ct 

0  75 

157 

50 

Asparagus, 

40     « 

ec 

3  00 

120 

00 

Tomatoes, 

140     " 

u 

0  50 

70 

00 

Cucumbers, 

100     « 

ec 

0  75 

75 

00 

Nasturtiums, 

1     « 

tt 

2  00 

2 

00 

Peppers, 

4     « 

(I 

0  75 

3 

00 

Rhubarb, 

52     « 

tt 

2  00 

104 

00 

Citron  Melon, 

75     « 

tt 

0  10 

7 

50 

Celery, 

2500     heads, 

tt 

0    3 

75 

00 

1 

Cabbages, 

3000     !' 

It 

0    4 

120 

00 

Leeks, 

1000     « 

C( 

0    0£ 

5 

00 

Salsify, 

2000     « 

it 

1  00 

20 

00 

Lettuce, 

4000     " 

tt 

2  00 

80 

00 

1,293 

62 

Hay, 

40  tons, 

a 

10  00 

400 

00 

Pork, 

1296  pounds. 

e: 

0    6 

77 

76 

Butter, 

663     " 

a 

0  25 

165 

75 

Milk, 

4488  gallons, 

(C 

0  16 

718 

OS 

Eggs, 

30 -J1  dozen, 

<! 

0  12$ 

37 

ss 

Poultry, 

150  lbs. 

C! 

0    6 

9 

00 

I—     1,408 

47 

fruits. 

[ 

Apples, 

200  bushels^ 

IC 

0  50 

100 

' 

Pears, 

20     « 

(i 

1  00 

20 

-.,.. 

Cherries, 

150     " 

cc 

1  00 

150 

00 

Currants, 

25     " 

tt 

1  00 

25 

00} 

Peaches, 

15     « 

tt 

1  00 

15 

Ou 

Grapes, 

1200  pounds, 

tt 

0    6} 

75 

ooj- 

Strawberries, 

8  bushels, 

t. 

2  00 

16 

ooj 



— 

401 

00 

Tot*;, 

*      OS 

09 

43 

The  able  and  distinguished  Superintendant  of  the 
Ehode  Island  Hospital  writes,  that  "no  form  of  labor  ap- 
pears so  well  calculated  to  promote  the  comfort  and  res- 
toration of  such  patients  as  have  had  habits  of  employ- 
ment, as  working  on  a  farm,  and  no  institution  can  fully 
accomplish  these  purposes  without  plenty  of  land,  and  at- 
tendants to  assist  in  cultivation."  All  patients,  whether 
men  or  women,  whose  minds  have  been  cultivated,  and 
who  have  had  habits  of  active  industry  and  employment, 
possess  high  advantages  in  chances  of  recovery  from  at- 
tacks of  insanity,  over  thejignorant,  the  indolent,  and  the 
inert.  So  also  those  whose  habits  have  been  methodical, 
and  temperate  in  eating  and  drinking, have  better  chances 
of  permanent  restoration  than  those  who  possess  their 
opposites. 

The  standard  of  sound  health  is  elevated  by  the  disuse 
of  stimulating  food,  and  of  all  intoxicating  drinks  ;  and 
by  avoiding  the  use  of  Tobacco  in  any  forms. 

Stimulants  even  not  inordinately  used,  excite  to  undue 
mental  and  physical  action.  It  might  seem  that  the  Apos- 
tle of  old.  apart  from  the  morale  of  life,  had  comprehend- 
ed animal  physics  when  he  exhorted  brethren  to  adhere 
to  "moderation  in  all  things." 

•'We  have  a  patient,  writes  the  Superintendant  of  the 
Maryland  Hospital,  "  who  had  for  many  months  been  in 
a  state  of  profound  depression  from  which  no  efforts  on. 
our  part  could  rouse  him.  He  had  repeatedly  attempt- 
ed suicide.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  when  well,  was  en- 
terprising, industrious,  and  devoted  to  the  pursuit.  He 
walked  out  to  the  hay-field,  and  after  much  persuasion, 
lie  was  induced  to  amuse  himself  by  mowing  a  little. 
Finding  hisjinterest  in  the  work  increase,  he  continued  to 
ply  the  scythe  for  two  hours  with  short  intervals.  He 
now  became  cheerful  and  communicative  ;  ate  with  ap- 
petite at  dinner;  after  which  he  expressed  a  wish  to  re- 
turn to  the  hay-field,  where  he  continued  mowing  until 
evening.  This  labor  was  followed  by  a  night  of  profound 
and  refreshing  sleep.  The  next  morning  he  hastened  to 
the  field,  and  from  that  time  was  seldom  unemployed  ; 
his  convalescence  was  rapid,  and  in  about  four  weeks  he 
returned  to  his  lamily  entirely  restored.  Similar  cases 
are  of  frequent  occurrence.  Of  ninety  nine  men  patients, 
forty-five  are  habitually  employed  in  useful  work  :  And 
of  fifty-seven  women  patients,  all  save  eleven  are  for  a 
great  part  of  the  time  employed  in  the  halls,  in  the  kitchen, 
she  washing  and  the  ironing  rooms,  or  in  mending  and 


^repairing  garments  and  house-linen,  and  various  sorts  of 
needle-work.  Thirty-eight  of  the  women,  and  fifty-five 
of  the  men  have  been  habitual  readers,  and  find  great 
benefit  and  satisfaction  in  the  use  of  the  library;  indeed 
several  patients  seem  to  owe  their  restoration  to  adopt- 
ing a  regular  course  of  reading  and  study. 

Jn  our  times,  when  knowledge  is  so  widely  diffiused,  it 
seems  almost  superfluous  to  dwell  upon  the  benefits  of 
hospital  treatment  above  all  private  and  domestic  man- 
agement. It  cannot  be  questioned,  that  suppose  know- 
ledge, experience,  and  all  domestic  arrangements  favor- 
able, one  might  decide  in  favor  of  treatment  for  the  insane 
in  their  own  families.  This,  however,  cannot  be  assured 
even  when  all  the  appliances  wealth  may  procure  are  at 
command,  and  therefore  all  persons  who  are  familiar 
with  these  subjects,  do  not  hesitate  in  advocating  Hospi- 
tal residence  for  the  insane  of  all  conditions  in  society, 
whether  rich  or  poor,  educated  or  ignorant.  Some  ob- 
ject that  associations  of  a  painful  nature  may  dwell  upon 
the  recollection  of  the  recovered  patient.  Whatever  ap- 
parent force  this  idea  may  possess,  it  is  a  well  establish- 
ed fact  that  patients  rarely  entertain  other  than  pleasant 
and  grateful  memories  of  their  residence  in  weli-regnla- 
ted  Hospitals.  When  these  are  not  well  organized,  an/] 
wisely  and  carefully  conducted,  no  patient  under  any  cir- 
cumstances should  be  sent  to  them. 

Jacobi  affirms  that  "the  magnitude  of  anticipated  evils 
has  been  greatly  exaggerated"  ;  "as  regards  these,"  he 
says,  "I  can  positively  affirm  that  of  six  hundred  cases 
which  I  have  had  the  opportunity  of  accurately  exami- 
ning in  this  establishment,  (that  of  Siegberg,  in  Ger- 
many) I  have  never  witnessed  a  single  one  in  which  the 
patient  sustained  any  material  injury  from  his  residence 
in  the  establishment  as  a  lunatic  asylum,  or  from  an}'  in- 
fluence exercised  upon  him  by  other  patients.  Such 
ideas  only  are  true  of  badly  ordered  Hospitals  and  these 
may  always  be  known  from  those  of  good  organization. 
The  time  has  gone  by,  thanks  to  Heaven,  when  the  un- 
happy insane  could  be  cast  into  mismanaged  Hospital?, 
and, as  too  often  is  the  case,  left,  in  jails,  and  poor-houses, 
festering  in  heaps  of  filthy  straw,  chained  to  the  walls  of 
dark  and  dreary  cells,  unworthy  of  solicitude,  and  vic- 
tims of  the  idle  and  interested  maxim-that  insanity  is  an 
incurable  disease,  and  that  insane  people  are  unconsci- 
ous of  the  treatment  they  receive,  and  the  cruel  miseries 
to  which  they  are  so  needlessly  subjected.  Much  has 
been  done,  but  more,  much  more,  remains  to  be  accon« 


45 

plished  for  the  relief  of  these  sufferers,  in  our  own  United 
States,  as  in  other  countries.  With  a  population  rating 
at  more  than  22,000  000,  our  insane  and  idiots  number 
at  the  lowest  estimate  22,000  ;  and  not  4,000,  at  this  lime 
have  the  advantages  of  appropriate  care  in  well  organ- 
ized hospitals,  or  comfortable  situations  adapted  to  their 
condition  and  circumstances  elsewhere. 

In  1844,  the  number  of  inmates  in  the  hospitals  of  En- 
gland and  Wales  was  11,272.  Additional  accommoda- 
tions have  been  called  for  and  provided  to  a  large  extent. 
The  oldest  hospital  founded  in  England  is  that  of  Beth- 
lem,  which  king  Henry  the  VIII  presented  to  the  City  of 
London,  in  1547. 

There  are  twenty  State  hospitals,  besides  several  in- 
corporated hospitals,  for  the  treatment  of  the  insane,  in 
nineteen  States  of  the  Union,  Virginia  alone  having  two 
government  State  hospitals.  The  following  is  a  correct 
list,  omitting  several  small  establishments  conducted  by 
private  individuals,  and  several  pretty  extensive  poor- 
house  and  prison  departments. 

The  first  hospital  for  the  insane  in  the  United  States 
was  established  in  Philadelphia,  as  a  department  of  the 
Penn  Hospital,  in  the  year  1752.  This  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  a  fine  district  near  the  village  of  Mantua,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  since  1S32  :  number  of  pa> 
tients  1S8. 

The  second  institution  recieving  insane  patients,  and 
the  first  exclusively  for  their  use,  was  at  Williamsburg, 
Virginia,  in  1773:  number  of  patients   105. 

The  third  was  the  Friends' Hospital,  at  Frankfort,  near 
Philadelphia,  in  1817:  number  of  patients  95. 

The  next  was  the  McLean  Hospital,  at  Charlestown, 
(now  Summerville,)  in  Massachusetts,  int!18l8.  This 
valuable  institution  is  second  to  none  in  America.  Num- 
ber of  patients  180. 

Bloomingdale  Hospital,  near  the  city  of  New  York, 
was  established  in  1S21  ;  number  of  patients  146  :  South 
Carolina  Hospital,  at  Columbia,  in  1S22  ;  number  of  pa- 
tients 74:  Conneticut  Hospital  at  Hartford,  patients  122 
and  Kentucky  Hospital  at  Lexington,  patents  247,  in 
1824. 

In  1845-46,  the  legislature  of  Kentucky  passed  a  bill 
to' establish  a  second  State  institution  in  the  Green  Riv- 
er country. 

Virginia  Western  Hospital  was  opened  at  Staunton  in 
1S2S  ;  number  of  patients  217.  Massachusetts  State 
Hospital,  at  Worcester,  was  opened  in  1833,  and  enlarg- 


46 

ed  in  1843  ;  it  has  370  patients.  Maryland  Hospital,  at 
Baltimore,  was  founded  in  1834;  it  has  the  present  year 
109  patients.  Vermont  State  Hospital,  at  Battleborough, 
was  opened  for  patients  in  1S37,  and  enlarged  in  184G-'47; 
it  has  at  present.  320  patients.  New  York  City  Hospital 
for  the  poor,  on  Blackwell's  island,  was  occupied  in  1838  ; 
it  is  now  being  considerably  enlarged  :  above  400  pa- 
tients. 

Tennessee  State  Hospital,  at  Nashville,  was  opened  in. 
1830.  According  to  an  act  of  the  legislature  the  present 
year,  this  hospital  is  to  be  replaced  by  one  of  capacity  to 
receive  250  patients.  In  the  old  hospital  are  64  patients. 
Boston  City  Hospital  for  the  indigent,  which  has  150  pa- 
tients, and  Ohio  State  Hospital  at  Columbus,  were  se- 
verally opened  in  1839.  The  latter  has  been  considera- 
bly enlarged,  and  has  now  329  patients.  Maine  State 
Hospital,  at  Augusta,  1S40;  patients  130.  New  Hamp- 
shire State  Hospital,  at  Concord,  was  opened  in  1842.  and 
has  100  patients.  New  York  State  Hospital,  at  Utica, 
was  established  in  1843,  and  has  since  been  largely  ex- 
tended, and  has  000  patients.  Mount  Hope  Hospital,  near 
Baltimore,  1844-45;  has  72  insane  patients.  Georgia 
has  an  institution  for  the  insane  at  Milledgeville,  and  at 
present  12S  patients.  Rhode  Island  State  Hospital  open- 
ed, under  the  able  direction  of  Dr.  Ray,  early  in  1848. 
New  Jersey  State  Hospital,  at  Trenton,  1848.  Indiana  State 
Hospital,  at  Indianapolis,  will  be  opened  in  1848.  State  Hos- 
pital of  Illinois,  at  Jacksonville,  will  be  occupied  before  1849. 
The  Lousiana.  State  Hospital  will  be  occupied  perhaps  within  a 
year. 

These  institutions,  liberally  sustained  as  are  most  of  them,  can- 
not accommodate  the  insane  population  of  the  United  States  who 
require  prompt  remedial  care. 

Such  being  the  facts,  one  can  hardly  employ  language  too  im- 
portunate, arguments  too  persuasive,  to  secure  such  increased 
accommodations  for  the  Insane  throughout  the  United  States,  but 
especially  in  those  States  in  which  no  Hospitals  have  been  eslab. 
lishea,  as  shall  assure  their  sufficient  care  and  protection;  their 
remedial  treatment  so  as  to  procure  recovery  when  recovery  is 
possible;  and  their  safety  and  guardianship  in  all  cases  where 
the  terrible  calamity  of  incurability  crowds  them  forever  from 
all  the  bland  affections,  and  social  enjoyments  of  domestic  and 
friendly  association. 

As  ye  would  that  others  should  do  for  you  in  like  circumstan- 
ces, so  do  ye  for  these  helpless  ones,  cast  through  the  Providence 
of  God,  on  your  sympathy  and  care  !  Be  the  guardians  and  ben- 
efactors of  those,  who  as  a  writer  in  the  17th  century  finely  ex- 


47 

presses  himself,  M  are  a  particular  rent  charge  upon  the  great 
family  of  mankind;  left  by  the  maker  of  us  all  like  younger 
children,  who  though  the  Estate  be  given  from  them,  yet  the 
Father  expected  the  heir  to  take  care  of  them  I" 

To  see  the  mind  once  brilliant,  and  in  the  exercise  of  fine 
energies,  obscured  and  inert  ;  or  if  quickened  to  action,  trans- 
formed from  the  consistent  bearing  of  a  being  possessed  of  ration- 
al understanding  to  the  fury  of  a  demon,  or  to  the  raging  of  an 
untamed  brute — this  is  fearful,  this  is  truly  to  behold  the  drain- 
ing to  the  dregs  the  cup  of  bitterness  !  Oh  with  what  ready 
zeal,  with  what  wisdom  and  humanity  should  not  every  one  di- 
rect himself  to  prevent  miseries  which  no  skill  can  wholly  heal, 
&  of  which  no  foresight  nor  prudence  can  prevent  the  recurrence. 

"  Weep  not  pale  moralist  o'er  desert  plains, 
Strewed  with   the  wreck  of  grandeur's  mouldering  fanes, 
Arches  of  triumph  long  with  weeds  o'ergrown, 
And  regal  cities — now  the  serpent's  own  ; — 
Earth  has  more  dreadful  ruins, — one  lost  mind, 
Whose  star  is  quenched,  has  lessons  for  mankind 
Of  deeper  import  than  each  prostrate  dome 
Mingling  its  marble  with  the  dust  of  Rome"  ! 

Bereft  of  reason,  man  loses  every  thing  that  renders 
life  valuable.  Naturally  endowed  with  capacities  for 
the  highest  enjoyment,  he  is  suddenly  through  an  attack 
of  insanity,  disabled  from  partaking  the  rational  pleas- 
ures of  life,  and  <*f  exercising  his  noble  faculties  for  his 
benefit  or  for  the  good  of  society. 

Though  plunged  in  the  most  profound  grief, — assailed 
by  every  form  of  trial  and  misfortune,  while  reason  is 
spared,  hope  may  cheer  his  dreary  hours, — and  faith 
support  him  through  every  trouble  ;  but  dethrone  reason 
and  he  is  utterly  prostrate.  The  merest  infant  is  not 
more  dependant  on  parental  care,  than  is  the  maniac 
upon  the  tender  ministrations  of  kindred  or  of  friends. 
In  an  hour  he  becomes  the  beneficiary  of  humanity  :  the 
helpless  ward  of  his  fellow-men  :  him  must  nursing,  and 
watching,  and  skilfulj  cares  surround,  else  is  he  the 
most  pitiable  of  human  beings — out-cast  and  forlorn — 
smitten  of  a  terrible  malady,  exposed  to  sufferings,  and 
woes,  and  tortures  of  which  no  language  however  vigo- 
rously^eombined  can  be  the  representation.  Have  pity  up- 
on him,  have  pity  upon  him  for  the  hand  of  God  hath  smit- 
ten him  !  Talk  not  of  expense — of  the  cost  of  support- 
ing and  ministering  remedies  for  these  afflicted  ones. 
Who  shall  dare  compute  in  dollars  and  cents  the  worth 
of  one  mind  !  Who  will  weigh  gold  against  the  price- 
less possession  of  a  sound  understanding  ?  You  turn  not 
away  from  the  beggar  at  your  door,  ready  to  perish  : 


48 

you  open  your  hand,  and  he  is  warmed,  and  fed,  and 
clothed  :  will  }Tou  refuse  to  the  maniac  the  solace  of  a 
decent  shelter,  the  protection  of  a  fit  asylum,  the  cares 
that  shall  raise  him  from  the  condition  of  the  brute, 
and  the  healing  remedies  that  shall  re-illume  the  temple 
of  reason  ?  Who  amongst  you  is  so  strong  that  he  may 
riot  become  weak  ?  Whose  reason  so  sound  that  mad- 
ness may  not  overwhelm  in  an  hour  the  noblest  intellect? 

You  will  not,  Legislators  of  North  Carolina — Senators  and  Representatives 
of  a  noble  State,  you  will  not  forget  amidst  the  heat  of  debate,  the  clash  of 
opinion,  and  the  strife  for  political  snpremacy  ;  you  will  not  forget  the  ma- 
jesty of  your  station,  the  dignity  of  that -trust  confided  to  you  by  the  suf- 
frages of  your  fellow-citizens. 

It  is  not  often  that  you  are  solicited  to  exercise  your  functions  in  behalf  of 
the  unfortunate.  That  you  possess  the  power,  and  now  the  opportunity  of 
exercising  a  gracious,  benignant,  and  God-like  influence  upon  the  present 
and  future  destiny  of  hundreds,  nay  of  thousands,  who  pine  in  want  and 
misery,  under  privations  and  sufferings,  wearily  borne  through  heavy  months 
and  years — the  light  of  whose  reason  is  quenched,  and  whose  judgment  is  a9 
the  stubble  upon  a  waste  field  ;  this  it  is  believed  is  a  sufficient  argument  to 
determine  your  decisions  in  favor  of  justice,  and  of  humanity,  and  of  un- 
questionable civil  obligation. 

As  benefactors  of  the  distressed  whose  mental  darkness  may,  through  your 
agency,  be  dispersed,  how  many  blessings  and  prayers  from  gratefnl  hearts 
will  enrich  you  !  As  your  last  hours  shall  be  slowly  numbered,  and  the  re- 
view of  life  becomes  more  and  more  searching,  amidst  the  shades  of  uncom- 
promising memories,  how  beautiful  will  be  the  remembrance  that  of  the  ma- 
ny of  this  life's  transactions,  oftenest  controlling  txfensient  and  outward  af- 
fairs, frequently  conducting  to  disquieting  results,  and  sometimes  to  those  of 
doubtful  good,  you  have  aided  to  accomplish  a  work  whose  results  of  wide- 
diffused  benefits  are  as  sanctifiying  as  they  are  permanent:  blessing  through  all 
Time — consecrating  through  all  Eternity  ! 

Gentlemen,  the  sum  of  the  plea  of  your  Memoralist  is  embodied  in  the  so- 
licitation for  an  adequate  appropriation  for  the  construction  of  a  Hospital  for 
the  remedial  treatment  of  the  Insane  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

D.  L.  DIX. 

Raleigh,  November,  1848. 


A 


"/ 


//Si, 


/  \ 


'l-.i i 


